§ The Earl of Clancartyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will intervene to ensure that the admission charges (including charges to school children) recently introduced by the British Museum for some displays drawn wholly from its permanent collection will be dropped. [HL1755]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyNo. The decision to charge for temporary exhibitions at the British Museum is a matter for its trustees.
Charges for children aged 16 and under to temporary exhibitions at the British Museum have been removed with effect from 1 April 1999.
Most of the temporary exhibitions at the museum include a major loan element and, in the few cases where this is not so, significant costs are incurred in research, presentation and promotion. The income from the nominal charges helps towards these costs. The museum intends to review this policy regularly.