Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Liz McInnes

Thursday 21st January 2016 Commons Chamber

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

T5. What assistance will the Department give to local authorities to keep their regional museums open following the recent Museums Association report, which stated that one in five regional museums has closed in part or in full and that one in 10 expect to introduce entrance charges to cover reductions in local authority funding?

[The Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy (Mr Edward Vaizey)]

I read the Museums Association report, and I welcome the fact that 60% of museums have seen their visitor numbers increase and that 40% of museums have seen their museum outreach increase. We want to work with local authorities and to work through the Arts Council with local authorities. I urge Labour authorities such as Lancashire to look again at their horrific plans to close their museums.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Lord Vaizey of Didcot and Liz McInnes

Thursday 9th July 2015 Commons Chamber

[Mr Vaizey]

Our Taking Part survey shows that since 2008-09, participation by children aged between five and 10 has increased, the number of children going to our museums has increased, the number of pupils taking arts GCSEs has increased—and so on and so forth. I do not share the hon. Lady’s view.

[Liz McInnes (Heywood and Middleton) (Lab)]

Does the Culture Secretary agree with the Education Secretary that studying arts subjects holds children back for the rest of their lives?

[Mr Vaizey]

No, he does not, because that is not the Education Secretary’s view. Labour Members seem to take the view that if we talk up science, we are somehow talking down the arts. My right hon. Friend was not doing that at all. I suggest the hon. Lady reads the speech.