§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures he is implementing to increase access and availability to the United Kingdom's museums and galleries; and if he will make a statement. [29934]
§ Mr. FisherMy Department launched a review of access to the national museums and galleries immediately on taking up office.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made an interim statement about this review on 8 December 1997. He also announced the creation by the Heritage Lottery Fund of a new £5 million Museums and Galleries Access Fund, which will be available for touring exhibitions, transport costs, and other audience development approaches to make our great national and regional museums more accessible to more people. He also published a consultation paper inviting views on a code of good practice on access on which views are welcome.
We are giving further thought to access issues as part of our Departmental Spending Review, which is taking a fundamental look at spending priorities across the whole range of my Department's responsibilities. This will be completed this summer, when a further announcement will be made.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what research he is conducting on the effects of admission charges on the overall number of visitors to galleries and museums; and if he will make a statement. [29938]
§ Mr. FisherThe effects of admission charges have to some extent already been examined by the recent research carried out for the Museums and Galleries Commission.
The effects of charging on access cannot be viewed in isolation. Other barriers to access such as opening hours, presentation and the cost of travel must be taken into account.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he last met the Director of the National Gallery to discuss Government policy towards free admissions; and if he will make a statement. [29935]
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§ Mr. FisherMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State last met Mr. MacGregor on 16 February 1998 and a number of issues, including museum admission charges, were discussed.
I am aware of Mr. MacGregor's views on the desirability of free admission to museums and galleries, and these will be taken into account in our continuing examination of access issues as part of our Departmental Spending Review. This will be completed this summer, when a further announcement will be made.
§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will estimate the cost to public expenditure of a free admissions policy to national collections in galleries and museums; and if he will make a statement. [29937]
§ Mr. FisherWe estimate very roughly that some £40 million p.a. would be required to secure free access to those national museums and galleries which currently charge for admission, and to preserve free access to those which do not currently charge. This figure includes compensation to charging museums for loss of recovery of VAT and the operating costs of new gallery space provided through major capital developments.