§ 12. Mr. CarringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what proposals she has to retain in the United Kingdom those works of art which meet the Waverley criteria. [21903]
§ Mr. SproatWhen an object is found to meet the Waverley criteria, a decision on the export licence application will be deferred for a period to allow time for funds to be raised to make a compensating offer to purchase. If there is such an offer, the object will be retained. It is for potential purchasers to determine whether to make a fund-raising attempt.
§ Mr. CarringtonDoes my hon. Friend agree that retaining the finest objects of this country's heritage is an appropriate use of national lottery funds? Will he make it clear to the national heritage memorial fund that one of its highest priorities should be to retain Waverley criteria items in this country?
§ Mr. SproatYes, I do agree with that. I agree that the lottery should be used, and indeed it can be used for that purpose. On 20 December the national heritage memorial fund contributed some £8 million to the purchase of a Seurat by the national gallery.
§ Mr. CohenDo any of the pictures owned by the Government meet the Waverley criteria? Why have so many gone missing from Government Departments, but worst of all from the Ministry of Defence? Will he take some action to make sure that generals, admirals and top civil servants cannot just walk off with the Government's paintings?
§ Mr. SproatI am sure that the answer to the hon. Gentleman's first question—whether some Government paintings fulfil the Waverley criteria—is yes. As for his second question, he will know that some of the paintings went missing when embassies such as that in Iran and elsewhere were subject to seige by the people of the country. It is true that we need to know why certain paintings which have been in the holding of the Foreign Office or Ministry of Defence are missing. I shall certainly be asking my right hon. Friends to account for them.