§ Baroness Hooperasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will waive the rule of non-insurance for national museums and galleries, so that they can indemnify themselves adequately against public and employer's liability risks.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)The total size and range of government business is so large that the government can normally meet particular or general losses at least cost by drawing directly on its own resources. Therefore, the Government's policy is that departments and non-departmental public bodies, including the national museums and galleries, should purchase commercial insurance cover only where doing so can be shown to represent value for money compared to non-insurance or where insurance is a statutory requirement. The sponsoring government departments and the Treasury will, of course, carefully consider any request to insure on a sound value for money case.