Works of Art (Hansard, 21 July 1997)

§ 2. Mr. Fearn
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make a statement on plans to encourage local authorities to sell minor works of art, purchased by past local authorities, which have not been on public display for over 20 years. [7497]

§ The Minister for Arts (Mr. Mark Fisher)
That is a matter for local authorities to decide. Disposals from museum and gallery collections need special care, and I hope that any local authority would take into account the guidelines issued by the Museums and Galleries Commission.

§ Mr. Fearn
I do not want the family silver to be sold off, but would the Minister consider giving a directive to local authorities? Local authorities have works of art in their vaults and rooms, many of which have not come out for 50 years. I have been to several museums in the north-west, where many works of art have never been uncovered and lie rotting. Local authorities now have air conditioning and various other things to do. There should be a directive saying that a local authority could sell such works or bring them out for viewing by schools. There would then be some direct remuneration to the authority.

§ Mr. Fisher
rose—

§ Madam Speaker
Order. I have not heard a question yet.

§ Mr. Fearn
I asked about a directive.

§ Madam Speaker
Do you want a directive or do you not want a directive? I am sure that the Minister can make a small response.

§ Mr. Fisher
I hope that the hon. Gentleman is wrong to say that works of art are rotting. I am sure that directors of museums all over the country make sure that everything in their collection is well preserved. The hon. Gentleman has made an interesting point. We want to ensure that anything held by a museum is as widely accessible as possible, particularly to young people. There is great potential for work with schools and communities. However, I have no evidence that the basements and stores of local authority museums are stuffed with undiscovered treasures. I will seek the views of the Museums and Galleries Commission and the Local Government Association. The MGC has laid down very good guidelines for local authority museums.

§ Mr. Alan Clark
I hope that the Minister will not issue a directive. Which guru will judge what is a minor or major work of art? The purpose may be to raise money, but, as the Minister well knows, it is not long since paintings from the Alma-Tadema and pre-Raphaelite schools were regarded as worthless, but now they are fetching millions. If such a directive were issued, in about 20 years all the Lowry paintings in the museum mentioned by the hon. Member for Salford (Ms Blears) would be swept out and put on the market.

§ Mr. Fisher
I assure the right hon. Gentleman that the MGC guidelines are adequate for the time being. I shall not issue a directive. I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has learnt so well from his distinguished father and understands how fashions and valuations vary. Sir Denis Mahon often picked up now priceless Guercinos for his magnificent collection, recently at the National Gallery, for very small sums in the 1930s. Hon. Members on both sides understand how such matters change.

§ Madam Speaker
If I call Sir Patrick Cormack, do you think that I might get a question rather than a comment?

§ Sir Patrick Cormack
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that there is no greater deterrent to potential donors than museums carelessly disposing of their assets?

§ Mr. Fisher
I entirely agree.

§ Madam Speaker
Well done.