HC Deb 02 July 1979 vol 969 cc454-5W
Mr. Squire

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the figures for general Government expenditure, adjustments and estimated outturn of White Paper planning total for the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78, on the same basis as the figures for 1978–79 and 1979–80 which are contained in table 7 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report.

Mr. Peter Rees

Estimates of general Government expenditure and the adjustments necessary to form total public expenditure on a White Paper basis are published in "Financial Statistics"—table 2.4. Further adjustments necessary to arrive at the White Paper planning total are shown in the table below.

make use of the Standing Commission on museums and galleries to ascertain, with the assistance of appropriate expert assessors selected ad hoc in each case by that Commission to advise it, the preeminence or otherwise of works of art and museum objects offered to the Treasury in satisfaction of capital transfer tax under paragraph 17(4) of schedule 4 to the Finance Act 1975, as amended by section 124 of the Finance Act 1976.

Mr. Peter Rees

We shall be considering the arrangements for acceptance in lieu of tax in the context of the proposals we shall be bringing forward for the preservation of the heritage, and shall bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind. The Standing Commission is, of course, consulted by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster when he considers the allocation of an art object which has been accepted in lieu of tax.