Museums: Charges and Grants (Hansard, 12 January 1998)

§ Lord Freyberg
asked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the admission charge for (a) the Natural History Museum (b) the Imperial War Museum at Lambeth Road (c) the National Maritime Museum (d) the Royal Air Force Museum (e) the Science Museum in London (1) the Victoria and Albert Museum (g) the National Museum and Galleries, Cardiff and (h) the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum when voluntary and compulsory charges were introduced; what it is now; and what is the percentage change of the charges since the introduction of admission charges.
136WA

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
The information is given in the following table.

Full adult admission charge at introduction Year of introduction Full adult admission charge now Percentage rise

Natural History Museum¹ £1 and £2 1987 £6

Imperial WarMuseum² £2.50 1989 £4.70 88

National Maritime Museum £1.50 1984 £5 233

Royal Air ForceMuseum³ £3 1988 £5.85 95

Science Museum⁴ £2 1988 £5.95 198

Victoria and Albert Museum⁵ £5 1996 £5 0

National Museum & Galleries, Cardiff £1 1988 £3.25 225

Ulster Folk andTransport Museum⁶ £0.15 1964 £4 2,567

¹ The Natural History museum initially operated differential charging regimes on two sites in 1987. A percentage comparison is therefore omitted.

² The figures are for the Lambeth Road site.

³ The figures are for the Hendon site.

⁴ The figures are for the South Kensington site.

⁵ The Victoria and Albert Museum initially operated a suggested voluntary donation of £2 in 1995, which rose to £4.50 in 1996. A compulsory charge was introduced in 1996.

⁶The figure quoted is for 1971. Although the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum began charging in 1964, figures for that year are not available.

The prices quoted do not take inflation into account and represent the full single adult price. All museums operate generous concessionary pricing regimes and the majority of visitors do not pay the full price. Many gain free admission. Concessionary regimes differ from institution to institution and detailed comparisons would need to take this into account.

§ Lord Freyberg
asked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether there is any correlation between the reduction in Treasury grants to national museums and the increase in admission charges at those museums that charge them.

§ Lord McIntosh of Haringey
Admission charges are a matter for the trustees of each institution.

	Full adult admission charge at introduction	Year of introduction	Full adult admission charge now	Percentage rise
Natural History Museum¹	£1 and £2	1987	£6
Imperial WarMuseum²	£2.50	1989	£4.70	88
National Maritime Museum	£1.50	1984	£5	233
Royal Air ForceMuseum³	£3	1988	£5.85	95
Science Museum⁴	£2	1988	£5.95	198
Victoria and Albert Museum⁵	£5	1996	£5	0
National Museum & Galleries, Cardiff	£1	1988	£3.25	225
Ulster Folk andTransport Museum⁶	£0.15	1964	£4	2,567
¹ The Natural History museum initially operated differential charging regimes on two sites in 1987. A percentage comparison is therefore omitted.
² The figures are for the Lambeth Road site.
³ The figures are for the Hendon site.
⁴ The figures are for the South Kensington site.
⁵ The Victoria and Albert Museum initially operated a suggested voluntary donation of £2 in 1995, which rose to £4.50 in 1996. A compulsory charge was introduced in 1996.
⁶The figure quoted is for 1971. Although the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum began charging in 1964, figures for that year are not available.
The prices quoted do not take inflation into account and represent the full single adult price. All museums operate generous concessionary pricing regimes and the majority of visitors do not pay the full price. Many gain free admission. Concessionary regimes differ from institution to institution and detailed comparisons would need to take this into account.