§ Mr. Bob RussellTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist to assist(a) public museums, (b) private museums and (c) private collectors in the acquisition of surplus or redundant military equipment. [56437]
§ Mr. SpellarThis subject was raised by the hon. Member for Gosport (Mr. Viggers), on behalf of the naval museums, during the Easter Adjournment debate on 8 April 1998,Official Report, columns 282–84. I subsequently met him on 3 June.
Following that meeting, I instructed officials in my Department to draft a set of guidelines to put in place more effective procedures for ensuring that assistance in obtaining surplus equipment can be provided to museums. In conducting this study officials in my Department will be consulting interested parties outside the Ministry of Defence.
It would be premature, at this stage, to speculate on the outcome. I will write to the hon. Member for Colchester, once the new guidelines have been endorsed.