§ 31. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will establish in Edinburgh, in addition to the National Gallery, a permanent gallery for the collection and exhibition of Scottish art.
§ Mr. MaclayAs announced by my predecessor on 9th March, 1951, it is proposed ultimately to build a Gallery of Modern Art on a site in Queen Street, Edinburgh, and modern Scottish art will no doubt be well represented in the collection exhibited there. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware that the National Gallery of Scotland already houses an outstanding collection of the Scottish art of earlier periods, to which the trustees continue to make additions.
§ Mr. WoodburnWhile agreeing that the National Gallery, as an international gallery which includes Scottish art, is one of the finest in Europe, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that there is a considerable body of opinion in the Arts Council and elsewhere that it would be desirable to have 957 in Edinburgh a permanent exhibition of Scottish art? Will the right hon. Gentleman consult with the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the National Trust about the possibility of using some of the houses on the north side of Charlotte Square, which are likely to be available, as a beginning for an exhibition which, if he wished, could be transferred later to Queen Street?
§ Mr. MaclayI will certainly look at that proposal, but there are difficulties in adapting existing premises for the purposes which we all so much desire to see achieved.
§ 32 and 33. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether, in view of the attractions of the Edinburgh International Festival for overseas visitors, he will provide facilities for collecting and exhibiting outstanding examples of Scottish artists;
(2) whether he will approach other art galleries to make available for an exhibition of Scottish art outstanding pictures in their collections for exhibition in Edinburgh, especially during the period of the Festival.
§ Mr. MaclayThe arranging of art exhibitions in a matter for bodies such as the trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Arts Council and the claims of Scottish art are kept fully in mind. The trustees, with the help of the Arts Council, held a Raeburn exhibition during the 1956 Edinburgh Festival, and during this year's Festival they plan to hold an exhibition of the work of Sir David Wilkie.
§ Mr. WoodburnIn connection with the Charlotte Square proposal, would not the right hon. Gentleman consider that this would be not only an exhibition of Scottish art but one of the finest examples of Adams architecture and interior construction in the whole country?
§ Mr. MaclayI will note the right hon. Gentleman's point.