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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have made, or intend to make, available to small museums which have had to close during the COVID-19 pandemic and are unable to cover their non-staffing and other costs.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis officials and ministers have been in even more regular contact to understand the impact of the pandemic and the measures the Government has taken to fight it. And to understand what support museums and heritage organisations need and how best to get it to them.

In response to this information, DCMS arms’ length bodies have created sector specific support. The National Lottery Heritage Fund launched the £50 million Heritage Emergency Fund, and Historic England launched a £2 million Emergency Fund. This emergency short-term funding will help address pressures over the next 3-6 months for those organisations most in immediate need.

It is also worth noting that a fund has been set up for certain small businesses with ongoing fixed property-related costs, previously outside the scope of the business grant funds scheme, including small charity properties.

The Government continues to monitor the impact of these and other measures.