Regional Museums

Debate between Lord Sterling of Plaistow and Baroness Stowell of Beeston

Monday 25th April 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sterling of Plaistow (Con)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Stowell of Beeston]

My Lords, we are getting frisky today. The House is calling to hear from my noble friend Lord Sterling.

[Lord Sterling of Plaistow]

My Lords, for 20 years I had the honour to be heavily involved in the National Maritime Museum, which is now Royal Museums Greenwich, and was chairman for 10 years. Many of us felt that the big 12 in this country are so rich with their works of art and everything we have on that side. Our collections are marvellous. We discussed many times that, to really help the regional museums, the big 12 should use much of their collections which are below decks, to use an expression, and not above—nearly 90%—for exhibitions to go right round the country. That would have a huge effect on places, not just educationally and locally, but for tourism, which is a very important factor for the future. Will the Minister please look into that to see whether it can be encouraged and helped?