Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Howard of Rising (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 8 July 2009.

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Question: My Lords, if the Minister is concerned about the cost of going electronic, why is the quango spending £400,000 on moving its centre away from where most of its activity takes place?

Answer: My Lords, that is because it meets other criteria, which I have identified. Also, costs will be reduced in the longer term. I have merely identified in the £750,000 the one obvious and straightforward way in which the service could be made even more efficient than it is—although it is highly efficient and is a source of very little in the way of criticism. It could be made more efficient with this extra deployment of resources, but the House might think it fair that the art industry and those concerned with this exercise, as well as the public purse, should make their contribution.

Secondary information