John Battle Welcomes Museum Money

John welcomed grants for Yorkshire museums.

“I asked a formal Parliamentary Question about how much funding was going to Yorkshire museums through the Renaissance in the Regions programme.

I was very glad with Minister’s reply that Yorkshire’s share is £210,000 this financial year, but £676,000 next year and £1,180,000 the year after (financial year 2005/06). This is a real commitment from the Government and very welcome, and I will lobby for it to continue in future years.

“I am also campaigning for more resources for the wonderful Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills in my constituency – just down the canal from where Kirkstall Abbey tells an earlier part of the story of our city. Armley Mills is fascinating – vast spinning machines advance clanking across the floor towards you and you gain a real sense of the power and inventiveness of Britain’s industrial revolution and of the horrendous working conditions for both adults and children. But the museum would benefit from some extra investment, especially to make the way in more inviting.

Armley Mills has its own cinema and website and won a national award last year.

©John Battle MP 26 October 2004

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