§ Mr. BeithTo ask the Prime Minister what discussions he has had about the displaying of the Lindisfarne Gospels in(a) Durham, (b) Newcastle and (c) Holy Island; and if he will make a statement. [115941]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 23 March 2000]I very much welcome the work done by the British Library and Northumberland county council to enable the display of the Lindisfarne Gospels in the North East. Although primarily a matter for the two parties involved, I have taken a keen interest in this partnership and am pleased that they have reached an agreement which will allow the people of the North East to see the Gospels when they are loaned to the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle later this year. Thanks to the British Library, the North East will also have a permanent digital copy of the Gospels using the Library's award winning "Turning the Pages" technology.