Future of the Science Museum Group

Written evidence submitted by Michael Bailey [SMG 001]

Until February 2012, I was a Trustee of the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester (MOSI). From that month, at the Secretary of State’s insistence, the museum was absorbed into the SCG. To bring this about, the Trustees negotiated an agreement with the SCG. One clause of that agreement stated specifically that the MOSI site in Manchester should remain as a science and industry museum for a minimum of 25 years. This agreement remains in being and should not be gone back on.

MOSI provides a beneficial service to the people of Manchester and the wider northwest region. Its education facilities form an essential part of the curriculum for a large number of schools. In the last complete business year MOSI received 840,000 visitors, making it one of the largest provincial museums. Quite apart from the very large collection of artefacts it holds, the site incorporates the worlds earliest main line railway buildings dating from 1830. They are Grade 1 listed.

Nothwithstanding the need for the country to make budget reductions, museums should never be threatened with closure as they retain the nation’s cultural heritage, which is so important for today’s and future generations.

June 2013