HC Deb 02 June 1980 vol 985 cc1038-9
22. Mr. Freud

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the current credit balance of the national heritage fund.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Leader of the House of Commons (Mr. Norman St. John-Stevas)

The sum of £12.4 million was credited to the national heritage memorial fund on 24 April, £6.2 million from the Vote of the Office of Arts and Libraries and £6.2 million from that of the Department of the Environment. The fund is administered by independent trustees, and it is for them to decide how they invest the fund and what disbursements they make from it.

Mr. Freud

Does the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster accept that, despite his answer, the well-being of the fund depends to a substantial extent on the good will of the Government? Will he assure the House that the Government will look sympathetically at claims for extraordinary acquisitions as and when they arise?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government are extremely sympathetic to this fund, and to the work it is doing. This Government set up the fund during their first Session. It would be inappropriate for any Minister, either myself or the Secretary of State for the Environment, to attempt to interfere with the decisions of the trustees, because as the hon. Gentleman will recognise, it is the will of the House that these trustees should be completely independent of Government.

Mr. Faulds

While I personally doubt the sufficiency of the moneys for the long-term purposes of the fund, would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that there are sufficient moneys available to save the Whistlers in the Glasgow university collection, once the Prime Minister makes up her tardy mind about the appointment of the Scottish trustee on the board?

Mr. St. John-Stevas

First, may I say that the Prime Minister has given her consistent and full support to the setting-up of this fund, and she has been much quicker in this respect than the Government in whom, unfortunately, the hon. Gentleman was not included.

Mr. Faulds

We shall rectify that.

Mr. St John-Stevas

Secondly, with regard to the question of the Whistlers at Glasgow university I understand that an application has been made to the fund, and that is a matter for the trustees.