HC Deb 11 March 1969 vol 779 cc1160-1
30. Mr. Chichester-Clark

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he will announce his decision in relation to the Tate Gallery.

Mr. Mellish

Consultations are continuing with the Board of Trustees and with Ministers of the Departments concerned. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in the House on 20th February, it is more important to reach the right answer than an excessively quick one—[Vol. 778, c. 759–62.]

Mr. Chichester-Clark

I welcome the Minister's reply, but will he say when a decision is likely to be reached?

Mr. Mellish

No, I cannot. The trustees of the Gallery are in consultation with my right hon. Friends and myself. I assure the hon. Gentleman that we shall work with all speed to try to get an answer as quickly as possible.

Mr. Ogden

As a large proportion of the treasures of the Tate languish almost permanently in its cellars, would not it be an inexpensive exercise to get them out of the cellars and into the regions of the country?

Mr. Mellish

That is a point of view. The trouble with this argument is that there are so many points of view.