HC Deb 03 February 1959 vol 599 cc174-5
4. Colonel Beamish

asked the Minister of Works to what extent and for what reasons there are restrictions, other than those imposed by climate, on the value of pictures, furniture or other works of art used or displayed in Government Houses, Embassies or other official British residences abroad.

Mr. Molson

In general the only limiting factor is shortage of money. Within the resources available I try to ensure that the residences for which I am responsible, which do not include Government Houses, are suitably furnished and equipped.

Colonel Beamish

Does not my right hon. Friend agree that official residences are excellent show places? Is he aware that in many cases standards are deplorably low and that in a recent case some very fine pictures were withdrawn from the British Embassy in Buenos Aires and replaced with some second-rate stuff? Will he look into the question and, as far as money allows, do his best to make a major improvement?

Mr. Molson

I do not know exactly what happened at Buenos Aires. I rather think that that was one of the embassies where there were some pictures on exhibition which had come from the Tate Gallery. If that is so, there is a statutory obligation for them to be returned to the Tate Gallery after five years. In such cases, I generally replace them with such pictures as I have been able to buy and, naturally, what I buy for that purpose is very far inferior to the standard of the Tate Gallery.

Mr. Farey-Jones

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that this matter is much more important than the Question implies? The more one visits British embassies, the more one is struck by the paucity and poverty of the pictures shown. Could not my right hon. Friend make available some of the classic pictures at present in the cellars of museums, so that British representation in art can be properly understood abroad?

Mr. Molson

I am not convinced that there are so many pictures in the cellars of the national galleries. However, in any case, about two or three years ago, when legislation was being passed through the House to legalise the loan of pictures from the national galleries for the use of embassies, hon. Members insisted that the pictures should not be away from the national galleries for more than five years. It is as a result of that, I am afraid, that there has been some deterioration in the standard of pictures in British embassies.