Museums and Galleries Act 1992

Part I The British Museum and the British Museum (Natural History)

British Museum (Natural History): change of name

1 (1) The body corporate established by section 8 of the [1963 c. 24.] British Museum Act 1963 with the name of “the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History)” and the museum known as “the British Museum (Natural History)” shall instead be known respectively as “the Trustees of the Natural History Museum” and “the Natural History Museum”.

(2) The amendments specified in the following provisions of this paragraph are made in consequence of sub-paragraph (1) above.

(3) In the British Museum Act 1963—

(a) the words “Natural History Museum” shall be substituted for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” wherever occurring in sections 8(1) and (3) and 10(1); and

(b) in Schedule 2, in paragraph 4, for the words “that Museum” there shall be substituted the words “the Natural History Museum”.

(4) In Schedule 8 to the [1965 c. 74.] Superannuation Act 1965 (which specifies certain kinds of employment service in which is treated as service in the permanent civil service for pension purposes) for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” there shall be substituted the words “Natural History Museum”.

(5) In Schedule 1 to the [1972 c. 11.] Superannuation Act 1972 (which specifies certain kinds of employment to persons serving in which section 1 of that Act applies) for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” there shall be substituted the words “Natural History Museum”.

(6) In section 1(1) of the [1972 c. 73.] Museums and Galleries Admission Charges Act 1972 (which specifies the museums and galleries which may make admission charges) for paragraph (b) (the British Museum (Natural History)) there shall be substituted—

“(b) the Natural History Museum;”.

(7) In section 149B(6)(a) of the [1979 c. 14.] Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 (exemption from tax on chargeable gains for the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) etc) for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” there shall be substituted the words “Natural History Museum”.

(8) In section 507(1)(d) of the [1988 c. 1.] Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988 (tax exemption for the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History)) for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” there shall be substituted the words “Natural History Museum”.

(9) In section 271(6)(a) of the [1992 c. 12.] Taxation of Chargeable Gains Act 1992 (exemption from tax on chargeable gains for the Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History) etc) for the words “British Museum (Natural History)” there shall be substituted the words “Natural History Museum”.

Transfer of certain Ministerial functions

2 (1) The functions of the Secretary of State under sections 8(2)(b) and 10(2) of the [1963 c. 24.] British Museum Act 1963 (power to appoint one of the Natural History Trustees and power to alter authorised repositories of either Museum) are hereby transferred to the Lord President of the Council; and accordingly—

(a) in section 8(2)(b) of that Act, for the words from “by” to “on” there shall be substituted the words “by the Lord President of the Council on”; and

(b) in section 10(2) of that Act, for the words “Secretary of State” there shall be substituted the words “Lord President of the Council”.

(2) Sub-paragraph (1) above shall not affect the validity of anything done (or having effect as if done) by or in relation to the Secretary of State before the coming into force of that sub-paragraph.

The British Museum (Purchase of Land) Act 1894

3 (1) Section 2 of the [1894 c. 34.] British Museum (Purchase of Land) Act 1894 (which requires the purchased property to be managed in such manner as the Treasury may direct and the net rents and profits to be paid into the Exchequer) shall cease to have effect.

(2) In section 2A of that Act (the purchased property not to be sold without the consent of the Treasury and any proceeds of sale to be paid into the Exchequer) for the words from “Treasury” onwards there shall be substituted the words “Lord President of the Council”.

The Charities Act 1960

4 In Schedule 2 to the [1960 c. 58.] Charities Act 1960 (which lists the institutions which, so far as they are charities, are exempt charities within the meaning of that Act) for paragraph (d) (which relates to the British Museum and includes a reference to the British Museum (Natural History)) there shall be substituted—

“(d) the Trustees of the British Museum and the Trustees of the Natural History Museum;”.

The British Museum Act 1963

5 In consequence of section 6 of this Act, in the [1963 c. 24.] British Museum Act 1963, the words “or section 6 of the Museums and Galleries Act 1992” shall be inserted—

(a) at the end of section 3(4); and

(b) after the word “section” in section 5(3).