§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What have been the monthly attendance figures at the National Museums of Scotland in:
- (a) the year prior to the introduction of admission charges on January 1998; and
- (b) the year following the introduction of admission charges; and what percentage change in total visitor numbers this represents between the two years. [HL2739]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Scottish Office (Lord Sewel)The figures for 1997 and for January to June 1998 are set out in the table below.
1997 1998 January 59,703 43,064 February 74,295 47,769 March 101,163 56,211 April 93,225 66,875 May 117,723 *38,670 June 120,256 *34,604 July 147,723 — August 146,163 — September 87,586 — October 89,056 — November 63,566 — December 51,955 — It is not possible to give the percentage change between the two years until the end of 1998. * The Scottish United Services Museum, which attracted over 89,000 visitors in May and June 1997, has been closed since May for renovations.