Edinburgh museum to charge

The citizens of Edinburgh will pay pounds 3 a visit when they go to the the Royal Museum following a decision by the National Museums of Scotland to bring in admission charges.

The timing is an embarrassment for the Government which is in the middle of an inquiry into the funding of museums. Mark Fisher, the arts minister, has spoken out vigorously in favour of free admission and against charging.

He told the Commons shortly after the election: "We do not want anyone to be charged entry to national museums and galleries ... The Government believes that all members of the community should be able to enjoy our great national museums and galleries: they should be for the many, not just the few."