HC Deb 13 July 1981 vol 8 cc795-6
22. Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure, following a Government decision in relation to the report of the Select Committee on the national heritage and capital taxation, that explanatory literature shall, without undue delay, be made available to the public by the Office of Arts and Libraries.

24. Mr. Best

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make the arrangements for private treaty sales more widely known to owners of works of art.

The Minister for the Arts (Mr. Paul Channon)

I intend to publish a note on these arrangements after the Government have replied to the Select Committee on Education's report.

Mr. Faulds

Whilst I am grateful for that positive reply, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he can get his colleagues at the Treasury and the other Departments concerned to give as affirmative and as speedy a response as possible to the unanimous recommendations in the report of the Select Committee on the national heritage and capital taxation, in view especially of the accelerating economic dangers to the retention of that national heritage?

Mr. Channon

I take careful note of what the hon. Gentleman said. The Government hope to reply as soon as possible. However, it is a very complex matter. I note the widespread feelings of support for the report in all quarters of the House.

Mr. Faulds

Before the recess?

Mr. Best

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the very fine art collection of the late Charles Tunnicliffe, a former constituent of mine, was purchased recently for £400,000 by Ynys Mon council and that, because that sum was given tax-free, it is equivalent to about £1 million having been raised, and then capital transfer tax and capital gains tax having been paid? Will my right hon. Friend make sure that people are more aware of the provisions whereby local authorities can purchase specific items not just to keep them in this country but also to benefit those who receive the funds from the local authority and to ensure that people then have the opportunity to see these works of art?

Mr. Channon

I agree entirely with all that my hon. Friend says. The lessons of the Tunnicliffe case show that there is insufficient knowledge of the present arrangements. I congratulate my hon. Friend and the people of Anglesey on having, through their ingenuity, acquired works of art which I hope will give pleasure for a great many years.

Mr. Cormack

Will my right hon. Friend accept that we welcome his good will but that we want to know how soon "soon" is? This report was unanimous. It gives the Government a unique chance to make a very sensible and enlightened move. We have the full support of the hon. Member for Warley, East (Mr. Faulds), the Opposition spokesman. Therefore, can we have a reply before the House rises for the Summer Recess?

Mr. Channon

The timing of the reply is not entirely a matter for me, but I shall make sure that my right hon. Friends know of my hon. Friend's concern for a speedy reply. However, I should prefer to get the reply right rather than have undue haste and get it wrong.

Mr. Faulds

May I reiterate what I said at the outset? The right hon. Gentleman must have got the message from the House that we all want to see action on that report. It cannot dangle about until the autumn. We want to know before the recess what is to happen.

Mr. Channon

I note what the hon. Gentleman says. I must again re-emphasise that I do not want to raise hopes that I cannot fulfil. The Government will reply as soon as they possibly can, but I am sure that it is important, when settling arrangements for the future, to get them right rather than rush just because the House is about to rise for the Summer Recess.