§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review and increase the grant to museums in the Tyne and Wear area. [148614]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and I will be meeting representatives of the Tyne and Wear Museums Service shortly to discuss funding. As my right hon. Friend has already explained to the Director of the Tyne and Wear Museums Service, he has held back a reserve the use of which he will determine when his current negotiations on the question of irrecoverable VAT are complete.