§ Mr. Granvilleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the recent purchase by the Arts Council of "Autumn Landscape" and three other paintings is causing dissatisfaction; that these paintings are not representative of British art; and who was consulted before the paintings were purchased.
§ Mr. GaitskellI am aware that one of the five pictures recently purchased by the Arts Council has been criticised in some newspapers which could, of course, print only a small black and white photograph of it. I am assured that, taken together, these pictures are widely representative in style and cover various aspects of contemporary British painting. They were purchased on the recommendation of three persons with wide knowledge of modern art and diversity of tastes nominated by the Arts Council—Mr. W. Sandberg, Director of the Municipal Museum, Amsterdam, Mr. Alan Clutton-Brock, Art Critic of "The Times," and Mr. A. J. L. McDonnell, adviser to the Felton Bequest of the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne.