Works of Art

HC Deb 09 June 1995 vol 261 cc340-1W

Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owners hold works of art granted exemption from inheritance tax where viewing of the object is by appointment only. [26724]

Sir George Young

Seven hundred and four owners of chattels which have been granted conditional exemption from inheritance tax or capital transfer tax have undertaken to satisfy the public access requirement by entry on the register of conditionally exempt works of art. These owners are required to make the chattels available for viewing by members of the public, by appointment. Works of art and other objects on the register may also, unless this cannot be done without physical risk to the object, be borrowed by curators or directors of public collections.