9 OCTOBER 1971, Page 29

Museum charges

Sir: I have read with interest your analysis (Spectator's Notebook, September 25) of the memorandum prepared by Mr Andrew Faulds, MP, which criticises the Government's handling of the proposed admission charges to the National and Tate Galleries.

May I suggest that the crucial point is that it would be open to any private citizen visiting these galleries to challenge in the courts the legality of payments being exacted under the arrangements at present laid down by Lord Eccles. As Mr Faulds points out, the Government would surely not wish the Trustees to run the slightest risk of such action being taken against them. Indeed the fact ought to be more widely understood that it is the Boards of Trustees, and not the Government, who are responsible at law in the existing circumstances.

Hugh Leggatt Leggatt Brothers, 80 St. James's Street, London SW1