It is a pity the Deputy did not remind the previous incumbent of this office of the need for funding for national institutions. These institutions are still at a low base and need to be improved. However, there has been a substantial increase in funding for each of the institutions since this Government took office whereas little or no attention was paid to them previously. This underlines the fact that the Government views these institutions as playing a key role in our heritage and culture.
Members will be interested to hear of the kind of moneys we are talking about. We would like to be in a position to open the museum for longer hours and on bank holiday Mondays and to improve access in any way possible. The current Sunday opening hours are from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. It is estimated that increasing this opening time from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. would cost £63,000 per annum. Late opening from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. one night per week would cost an estimated £70,000 per annum. Opening on bank holiday Mondays would cost £6,000 per day.