Stourbridge Glass Collection

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 6:04 pm on 18 June 2009.

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Photo of Barbara Follett Barbara Follett Minister of State (Culture and Tourism), Regional Affairs, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Culture and Tourism), Department for Culture, Media & Sport 6:04, 18 June 2009

I thank the hon. Gentleman, and I understand his concern. I have made it the central plank of my time as Minister for the arts to ensure that we democratise our arts and our culture. In other words, I want to ensure that we do not keep arts and culture locked away, that we keep collections together, that we make them available by whatever means we have at our disposal—such as making them available digitally—and that we let people get to them and see them as they ought to be seen. As quite a large section of my family worked in the china industry in parts of Staffordshire, I understand the value that people put on such collections. I understand the historical value of holding them together. I assure him that I will do all I can to ensure that they are preserved.

As I have said, I understand the concerns of my hon. Friend Sir Patrick Cormack about the preservation of the history and heritage of Stourbridge. I hope, therefore, that Dudley council will not take risks with the collection, which is so precious to the people of Stourbridge and the surrounding county, and that it will not implement any unnecessary or hasty closures, especially of a local museum that is providing an excellent service. I hope, too, that the council will do all it can to work collaboratively with the local community, to listen to it and to resolve this situation.