HC Deb 29 July 1954 vol 531 c691
59. Captain Kerby

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why Her Majesty's Government have departed from the hitherto customary policy of not appointing civil servants to the boards of trustees of the National Gallery and Tate Gallery; and what other departures from precedent in this respect have taken place during the past decade.

Mr. Maudling

Trustees of the National and Tate Galleries are chosen for their general suitability. In recent years it has not been customary to appoint serving civil servants other than as ex-officio trustees. One present trustee is now a civil servant, though at the time of his appointment he was not in the Civil Service. Thus there is not any marked departure from precedent.