Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Nicholas Winterton (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 6 November 2006 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Sharing Collections

Question: Will the Minister congratulate the director of the Macclesfield silk museum, which was recently visited by His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, on involving junior schools and their curricula with the textile history and tradition of Macclesfield? Will he go a little further and assure me and the House that small museums will not be neglected in respect of funding? They are critical to the history and tradition of our country and, in particular, of Macclesfield and the textile industry in the north-west.

Answer: The hon. Gentleman is right to attach his museum to the social cohesion that is no doubt important in Macclesfield. The museum in Macclesfield has benefited from the renaissance in the regions programme, which has £147 million for our regional museums up to 2008. That money was not there before. Our regional and local museums were in a dire state prior to that funding. In the House last week, I was pleased that so many people, and so many Members, were able to attend an event at which we celebrated the success of that programme, which Macclesfield has benefited from.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 451 c559
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Subjects: Finance Museums and galleries Macclesfield Access Schools British Library County Durham
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk