Museums and Galleries

Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Excerpts

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The right reverend Prelate makes a good point. Of course we will.

[Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury]

My Lords, one thing that the Government have done to encourage philanthropy is to establish an £80 million match-funding fund. However good encouraging philanthropic giving to the arts might be, does my noble friend not agree that it is important for there to be both private and public funding of museums and galleries, and that this Government are committed to public funds for museums and galleries?

[Baroness Rawlings]

Yes. My noble friend Lady Bonham-Carter makes an important point, of which the Secretary of State is fully aware. He will be doing as much as possible to encourage private giving, as I was saying to the noble Lord, Lord Myners. We will be protecting regarding the cuts to museums so that we protect the fine quality we have in this country as expressed in the question of the noble Lord, Lord Sheldon.