§ Mr. Dykesasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what criteria the decision of Her Majesty's Government has been reached to support with public funds the subscription for the purchase of the Death of Actaeon painting by the Trustees of the National Gallery.
§ Mr. van StraubenzeeIt is established practice for the Government to consider on its merits each application from the museums and galleries for a special purchase grant where a work of art of outstanding importance is involved. The additional criteria taken into account are that the cost of the work is beyond the ordinary resources of the public collection, that the institution is willing to make a substantial contribution from its own resources, and that it has demonstrated its success in attracting support from the public for its acquisition.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will recommend a special grant-in-aid 386W towards the purchase by the National Portrait Gallery of the painting by Hans Eworth of Queen Mary Tudor.
§ Mrs. ThatcherAn amount of £20,000 is being made available and an advance of this sum will be made from the Contingencies Fund in the first instance. Parliamentary approval will be sought in due course.