National Trust Acts

Lord Berkeley of Knighton Excerpts

Thursday 3rd December 2020 Lords Chamber

[The Deputy Speaker (Lord Brougham and Vaux) (Con)]

I remind noble Lords to keep their questions brief.

[Lord Berkeley of Knighton (CB) [V]]

My Lords, does the Minister agree that, in order to approach equality—it is not just Black Lives Matter that is of importance—we should keep some of the small venues open; after all, we are not just a nation of mansions. I take the Minister’s initial point, but I know that the finances have meant that some of these smaller places are threatened. On Black Lives Matter, I feel completely that it is a question of presenting the facts and letting visitors decide for themselves. There should be no opinion or political aspect to that whatever.

[Baroness Barran (Con)]

On the noble Lord’s last point, the Government agree. Our position has been to retain and explain houses, statues and other artefacts that represent our history. If I understood the earlier part of his question correctly, in relation to smaller properties, my understanding is that the National Trust currently has no plans to permanently close any properties or to reduce its commitment to the houses within its care.