HL Deb 26 July 1999 vol 604 cc153-4WA
The Earl of Clancarty

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Which of the national museums and galleries have tendered out exhibition or other ticketing services to private companies; and, where appropriate, whether they will identify the particular aspects of such services so tendered; and [HL3641]

What are the private companies to whom national museums and galleries have tendered out exhibition or other ticketing services. [HL3642]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

National museums and galleries have tendered out exhibition or other ticketing services in the last five years to private companies as follows:

Company
British Museum First Call Group, for tickets to temporary exhibitions;
Imperial War Museum Ticketmaster, for provision of some of the ticketing services for the annual programme of air shows at Duxford, since January 1998. Such tickets may be purchased as part of combined offers with local hotels and the WAGN railway network;
National Gallery Edwards and Edwards, First Call Group, Keith Prowse and FNAC Billetterie, for tickets to temporary exhibitions;
National Maritime Museum First Call Group, for the Titanic exhibition 1995–96;
Royal Armouries Ticketnet, for tickets to temporary exhibitions;
Tate Gallery Box Office Spectacle du Monde, First Call Group, and FNAC Billetterie, for tickets to temporary exhibitions;
Victoria and Albert Museum First Call Group, Ticketmaster. and Edwards and Edwards, for tickets to temporary exhibitions.

No national museums and galleries have contracted out ticketing services to private companies for general admission, except for the Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds, where they are operated by Royal Armouries (International) plc.