LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM.- A new scheme is being introduced in the United Kingdom where museums will be able to claim Gift Aid on both the admission fee and the donation. The chancellor had announced last year that he would stop charitable attractions from claiming Gift Aid on admission fees. With Gift Aid, every £1 a UK taxpayer pays is worth an extra 28p to museums. The new scheme depends on visitors donating an additional 10% on top of admission. The scheme will be introduced in April 2006.

Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said, "We are relieved by today's announcement. It should reduce the impact of what could have been have been a financial disaster for many of the UK's finest museums and visitor attractions."

Independent museums and other charitable attractions in the heritage and nature sector will benefit from this new scheme as they will ask visitors to contribute on top of the basic admission charge. Provided they donate at least an extra 10%, the whole amount will be eligible for Gift Aid.

Sam Mullins, chairman of the Association of Independent Museums, said, "The need to attract an additional donation of 10% will be a challenge. But one advantage is that it gives us the opportunity to communicate our educational and charitable objectives to visitors."