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Local Museums
05 March 2026
Lead MP
Jennifer Craft
Thurrock
Lab
Responding Minister
Ian Murray
Tags
Culture, Media & SportLocal Government
Word Count: 14762
Other Contributors: 17
At a Glance
Jennifer Craft raised concerns about local museums in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Craft asks the Minister to ensure that small museums can access Government support and to consider offering more small grants with a simplified application process. She also invites the Minister to visit the Purfleet Military and Heritage Centre to experience its rich local history. Hobhouse urged the Government to provide more funding to local authorities to support museums, placing greater emphasis on heritage and local history as a public good. She also suggested that every community deserves a museum and every child should have access to their heritage, regardless of their background or location.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Jennifer Craft is concerned about the financial challenges faced by local museums in Thurrock, including the Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre. She highlights the museum's rich history, its role in preserving local heritage, and the efforts of volunteers who run it. She mentions that despite receiving limited funding, the museum relies on small donations, entrance fees, and yearly subscriptions to cover maintenance costs. Craft emphasizes the importance of ensuring that smaller, volunteer-run sites can access the support available from the Government. Wera Hobhouse highlighted the significant contribution of local museums to the UK economy and local communities. She noted that the independent museum sector contributed nearly £900 million to the UK economy and attracted almost 20 million visitors in 2023. She emphasized the importance of volunteers who support museums and highlighted the Museum of Bath at Work as an example of a small museum operating with limited funding but extensive community support. Hobhouse also pointed out the severe impact of local authority funding cuts, with over 500 museums closing in the last 25 years, disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities. She argued that local museums are crucial for education and community cohesion, providing a sense of belonging and understanding of local history.
Allison Gardner
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent South
Gardner underlined the importance of local museums in Stoke-on-Trent South, focusing on the Gladstone Pottery Museum and the World of Wedgwood. She highlighted the economic and cultural significance of these museums, which preserve heritage skills and attract visitors. Gardner also discussed the Lunar Gardens project, a proposed cultural destination that aims to promote heritage and boost tourism while creating employment and education opportunities.
Carla Denyer
Green
Bristol Central
I agree with the hon. Member that local museums are important and are often owned and run by local authorities, which face the risk of closure due to underfunding. I stress that the Government must ensure local authorities have sufficient funding to keep these museums open given their significant economic and social benefits. For instance, the arts and culture sector in Bristol created nearly £900 million of value this year.
Derby North
Derby has a diverse range of museums, including Derby Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Making, and Pickford's House, which attract nearly 15,000 schoolchildren annually. The Derby Museums trust received £800,000 from the Government's museum renewal fund last year. Derby museums welcome over a quarter of a million visitors each year and are vital to the visitor economy. Talked about her three children and how museums are a key component of the local community and education. She emphasized the importance of museums in telling the stories of the past that shape future generations.
West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire's museums, such as Dumbarton Castle and the Scottish Maritime Museum, preserve the region's rich industrial heritage and attract tourism. The Clydeside area's shipbuilding history is showcased at Clydebank Museum, which reopened after refurbishment. Glencairn House, the town's oldest surviving building, will open to the public in April after a £7.2 million transformation, supported by the UK Government. Discussed the importance of local museums in maintaining and developing local heritage. He highlighted the local pride in celebrating the proud innovation and heritage of shipbuilding on the Clyde.
Euan Stainbank
Lab
Falkirk
He expressed concern that the Scottish Government appears to have cut funding for Historic Environment Scotland by £3.7 million in last week's Budget.
Gregory Stafford
Con
Farnham and Bordon
Championed local museums in his constituency, highlighting the importance of museums to national culture and the challenges they face. Emphasised the need for funding and support for local museums to preserve heritage and attract visitors. He reiterated his concern that museums should not use taxpayers' money to push a current political cause, specifically mentioning Extinction Rebellion.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Jim Shannon highlighted the importance of local museums in preserving history and culture, specifically mentioning the Somme Museum in Conlig and the Ulster Folk Museum in Belfast East. He discussed the museum's role in education and its ability to engage young people. Shannon also called for long-term sustainability and proper funding for museums.
John Slinger
Lab
Rugby
He congratulated Rugby borough council on its work in running the Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, which is currently exhibiting its entire art collection and planning an exciting expansion in the coming years.
Julie Minns
Lab
Carlisle
Julie Minns discussed the importance of Tullie House in Carlisle, noting its role in driving the visitor economy and its transformation with £14 million of investment. She mentioned that while the museum attracts significant funding, local government funding cuts are affecting its operations. Minns also highlighted other local museums in Carlisle, including the Solway Aviation Museum and the Cumbria Museum of Military Life.
Kieran Mullan
Con
Bexhill and Battle
Bexhill and Battle constituency boasts a variety of museums and heritage sites. Bexhill Museum, founded in 1914, recently completed a refurbishment with a £390,000 grant and hosts 3,500 schoolchildren annually. The Battle Museum of Local History complements Battle Abbey and explores local history. Pevensey Courthouse Museum, run by volunteers, welcomed nearly 5,500 visitors last year. The Bright Foundation, founded by John Bright, offers arts and creativity opportunities to over 4,500 people annually. Mullan raised concerns about museums falling between the cracks during local government reorganisation and highlighted the need for transparency on local government spending. He mentioned that Bexhill is putting itself forward for town of culture, and made a joke about bribing the right hon. Member. He argued that MPs and the public have the right to say they think it is a bad idea if a museum introduces political elements, as it is a free speech issue.
Luke Myer
Lab
Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland
Mr Myer praised the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum and Land of Iron Museum, highlighting their significance to local communities and their role in preserving industrial heritage. He expressed concern over the financial uncertainty faced by these museums and called on the Minister to meet him to discuss support for the Land of Iron Museum's bid to become the national ironstone mining museum. Discussed the Captain Cook Museum and the importance of museums in telling local stories and maintaining heritage. He mentioned the Land of Iron getting a national title and the support from the museum renewal fund.
Melanie Ward
Lab
Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy
Local museums, such as the Kirkcaldy Galleries and War Memorial, play a crucial role in the community by fostering local pride and attracting visitors from across the country and the world. The galleries house significant art collections and historical artefacts, including a first edition of Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations'. Ward also expressed support for Kirkcaldy's bid to become the UK town of culture in 2028 and highlighted the work of the Burntisland Heritage Trust and the Museum of Communication. Championed her local area and secured £20 million to transform Kirkcaldy city centre. She mentioned the importance of local museums in keeping local history alive and discussed the campaign by church leaders in Scotland on the places of worship fund.
Mike Hill
Con
Bromley and Chislehurst
Mike Hill praises the Brunel Museum for its replica of the first boring machine and highlights the need for smaller museums to have access to the help available from the Government, as they often struggle with complex application processes.
Neil Coyle
Lab
Bermondsey and Old Southwark
I thank my hon. Friend for celebrating local history and highlight the Brunel Museum in my constituency, which makes an estimated £150,000 social value contribution but struggles to compete for resources. I argue that councils, Ministers, and the Department should ensure that resources are available to smaller community museums. He invited the Minister to visit the Golden Hinde in his constituency, highlighting its unique status and struggles to access funds, and asked the Minister to outline how he is expanding the museum renewal fund to help such unique museums. Mentioned the Brunel Museum and the work it does, including the first boring machine in Britain. He raised a key point about funding for local museums and the importance of museums in communities.
Terry Jermy
Con
South West Norfolk
Jermy highlighted Thetford's "Dad's Army" museum and Charles Burrell Museum, which focuses on the town's industrial heritage. He praised the work of local councillors and volunteers and mentioned the Discover Downham museum in Downham Market. Jermy emphasized the economic importance of tourism, which contributes approximately £3.6 billion to Norfolk's economy and supports over 120,000 jobs. He welcomed the £1 billion cultural capital fund for regional museums and galleries. Discussed the statue of Captain Mainwaring in his constituency, highlighting the breadth of what museums do, from 'Dad's Army' to Dracula and industrial heritage.
Tom Gordon
Lib Dem
Harrogate and Knaresborough
North Yorkshire has several unique small museums that serve as community anchors, fostering local pride and supporting local economies. Tom Gordon highlighted the work of volunteer groups such as the Knaresborough Museum Association, which runs heritage walks, provides educational support, and conducts research. He asked for support from the government to help protect and restore Knaresborough castle and other historical sites.
Wera Hobhouse
Lib Dem
Bath
She congratulated the museum sector for making museums engaging and fun, transforming them into places where people want to stay.
Government Response
Ian Murray
Government Response
Responded to the debate, highlighting the value of local museums and the contributions of volunteers. He mentioned the Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre and other museums across the country, emphasizing the need for funding and support for museums, including small ones. He discussed the Hodge review and the importance of local authorities producing plans for arts, culture, and museums. He also talked about the importance of museums in schools and communities, the role of museums in placemaking and tourism, and the contribution of museums to local economies. The minister committed significant new funding to the sector and outlined the breadth of their ambitions for the sector, now and into the future.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.