A MINISTER has reiterated the Government’s commitment to free admission at the National Railway Museum – but refused to confirm sufficient funding for it to stay open.

York Central MP Hugh Bayley raised questions after becoming concerned that funding cuts will result in national museums, including the NRM, being forced to charge entry fees.

Ian Blatchford, director of the Science Museum Group, which includes the NRM, who has warned that it could close if the Government cuts funding by a further ten per cent, has said reintroducing charges is not an option because the Government will not allow it.

Former museum director Andrew Scott told The Press last week he believed the Government should lift the ban on admission charges if it pressed ahead with the cuts.

But Mr Bayley said free admission had been introduced by the Labour Government in 2001, since when the national museums had been enjoyed by an increasing number of visitors, benefitting tourism, the local economy and local people.

He asked Culture Secretary Maria Miller what her policy was on admission charges to museums containing public collections, funded by central Government grant-in-aid.

Ed Vaizey replied on her behalf, saying: “The Government is committed to the policy of maintaining free admission to the national museums and galleries.”

But when Mr Bayley asked for an undertaking that the Government would provide enough public funding to enable all the museums in the Science Museum group to remain open, Mr Vaizey replied: “Operational decisions, including allocations to individual branches, are a matter for the Science Museum Group. The group has to address a projected operational deficit and is currently assessing a range of options to address this situation.”

Mr Bayley, who supports The Press’s Save The NRM campaign, welcomed the commitment to free admission but said he was very concerned at the lack of commitment to keeping the museums open.