§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what partnership funding he will make available to the military museums under their bid for millennium lottery money to improve access and education at the museums. [58335]
§ Mr. SpellarThe six principal museums and the 69 Regimental and Corps Museums supported from public funds have not approached the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for additional funding support for HLF Millennium Lottery Funding. The MOD funds the six principal museums through Grant In Aid, and provides financial support in the form of funding of salaries and the provision of accommodation to 69 Regimental and Corps Museums. This provides a firm base from which museums are able to raise partnership funding privately. A bid by a number of the Regimental and Corps museums for £1.5m from the HLF is being co-ordinated by the Army Museums Ogilby Trust.