Museums and Galleries: Admission Charges for Non-UK Residents
Debate between Lord Blunkett and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
I am happy to write to the right reverend Prelate with the specifics. It is really welcome that people can go into places of worship for quiet reflection as well as to see the most magnificent structures in the country. I do not have a specific answer to his question, and I will endeavour to write to him.
Lord Blunkett (Lab)
Across the world, charges are made on audio-described and in-person tours. If we were to think about major museums and art galleries charging visitors from outside this country, we would be able to pull together the plethora of existing different identifiers into a proper identity system.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
There are an awful lot of hypotheticals in this debate. I go back to my initial point that this Government do not currently have any plans to charge for entry to museums and galleries that are currently classed as the 50 national museums covered by the Labour Government scheme from 2001.
Young People: Government Policy
Debate between Lord Blunkett and Baroness Twycross
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
The Secretary of State is incredibly passionate about the new national youth strategy and the principle of coproduction with young people and the sector. She is clear that it will support the next generation to succeed. Unfortunately, I have to say that further details will be announced shortly, but I and the Secretary of State are clear that integrating the youth voice in policy-making can strengthen the quality of policies that affected people, build bridges between young people and government and make sure that the policies that affect them are the ones that they want and that recognise and reflect their needs and aspirations for the future.
Lord Blunkett (Lab)
My Lords, I know that the Minister will welcome the initiative by the Lord Speaker and the education and outreach service from Parliament. Perhaps she would also indicate how critical it is that citizenship is taught in schools and that citizenship encouraged in terms of youth provision is vital. On a day when my grandchildren, Finley and Harriet, are in the gallery, will she, with the education service and the Minister of State, help to make this work for the future, because it is crucial to our democracy?
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
Absolutely, and one of the things that was striking from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award survey was that two-thirds of the young people surveyed were politically active but only 40% were likely to vote in a general election. For me that was really telling. Young people are engaged and we need to use every mechanism to make sure that they see their political activity reflected in the type of politics we engage with in your Lordships’ House and in the other place. I will speak to the Minister of State in the Department for Education about this, but I am confident that the curriculum review will allow for a proper assessment of what is required for future education in this space.