HC Deb 05 April 2001 vol 366 cc257-8W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the cost in lost admission revenue to each of the national museums and galleries which charge admission fees of introducing universal free admission. [153438]

Mr. Chris Smith

The table shows the amounts of compensation I have currently allocated to the existing charging museums for the next three years. I am though currently finalising with these institutions the final element of compensation to "buy out" the previously planned £1 charge from 1 December 2001.

£ million
Museum 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04
Museum of Science and Industry in
Manchester 0.485 0.679 0.692
Museum of London 0.162 0.217 0.323
National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside 1.213 1.545 1.776
National Maritime Museum 1.891 2.442 2.491
Royal Armouries 0.504 0.726 0.740
Imperial War Museum 1.484 2.446 2.500
Science Museum 3.978 5.735 5.849
Victoria and Albert Museum 1.382 2.163 2.206
Natural History Museum 4.175 5.927 6.045
Tate St. Ives 0.253 0.355 0.362
Total 15.527 22.235 22.984