Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made a recent estimate of the potential impact of changes to the superannuation contributions adjusted for past experience (SCAPE) discount rate on costs for arms-length museums and galleries that are listed in Schedule 1 to the Superannuation Act 1972; whether those heritage institutions will receive funding to meet any shortfall; if she will make it her policy to introduce financial mechanisms to help heritage institutions manage additional costs in the long-term; and if she will make a statement.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) has not centrally made any recent estimates of the impact of changes to the superannuation contributions adjusted for past experience (SCAPE) discount rate on costs for national museums and galleries.

In prior spending review periods and to this point DCMS has supported its arm’s-length museums and galleries captured through the Superannuation Act 1972 with additional funding to assist with increased pension costs.

DCMS has already committed to provide additional financial support to assist with pension pressures in 2023-24 to the national museums and galleries listed in the Act and will be working with our ALBs to set prudent budgets for the financial year 24-25 in due course.