Museums and Galleries

Lord Howarth of Newport Excerpts

Tuesday 25th January 2011 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Rawlings]

The noble Earl, Lord Clancarty, has a good point, of which the Government are aware. The Secretary of State has announced his firm funding plans for the national museums and galleries over 2011-12 as part of the spending review, as I said. I hope that we will go further into the noble Earl’s point in the debate in his name next week.

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

My Lords—

[Lord Myners]

My Lords, what action have the Government taken to encourage philanthropy?

--- Later in debate ---

[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.

[Lord Howarth of Newport]

My Lords—

[Baroness Jones of Whitchurch]

My Lords, does the Minister recognise the crucial role of local councils in funding local and specialist museums and galleries? What steps will the department take to preserve these collections when the cuts in local council funding inevitably take their toll on those collections?