Regional Arts Facilities

Baroness Rawlings Excerpts

Wednesday 27th March 2024 Lords Chamber

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

I talked with the Welsh National Opera only last week about the importance and benefits of touring, as it does, between England and Wales. I am sure the noble Lord would share my despair that the Labour Government in Wales are cutting arts funding by 10% and considering reintroducing fees for museums. I hope that he sees the positive contrast with the increased budget that the Government provided to Arts Council England at the last funding round.

[Baroness Rawlings (Con)]

My Lords—

[Baroness McIntosh of Hudnall (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

My Lords, we have a bit of an impasse. Could we hear from the Conservative Benches and then the Labour Benches?

[Baroness Rawlings (Con)]

Thank you. My Lords, despite financial difficulties, some national museums are prevented by law from deaccessioning. What is the Government’s policy towards regional museums?

[Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Con)]

As my noble friend rightly points out, some of the national museums are prevented in statute from deaccessioning items in their collections. Other museums are under the direction of their trustees, and about 18 months ago the Government, working with Arts Council England and the sector, provided some guidance so that the trustees of those collections were able to reflect on the importance considerations as they made those decisions.