Museums and Galleries

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch Excerpts

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

My Lords—

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch]

My Lords, does the Minister recognise the crucial role of local councils in funding local and specialist museums and galleries? What steps will the department take to preserve these collections when the cuts in local council funding inevitably take their toll on those collections?

[Baroness Rawlings]

The Government are very much aware of these issues, which is why we have followed through with the Renaissance programme for arts, galleries and museums in the regions. The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and some other bodies are being passed on to the Arts Council England to ensure that these galleries and museums are properly looked after.