§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total value of contingent liabilities arising from her indemnification, under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980, of loans from the Gilbert collection to the Victoria and Albert museum. [40030]
§ Mr. SproatMy right hon. Friend made a written statement to the House on 5 June 1996 at columns499–500 setting out the total value of statutory contingent liabilities arising from all section 16 indemnities that remained outstanding at 31 March 1996. Since making that report, we have indemnified, under section 16 of the National Heritage Act 1980, a number of loans by the Gilbert Public Arts Foundation to the Victoria and Albert museum. The current total value of statutory contingent liabilities arising from these particular undertakings is £33,140,563. The Gilbert loans comprise an outstanding collection of more than 600 pieces of historic English and continental gold and silversmiths' work from about 1500 to 1830 and the definitive group of micromosaics and pietra dura furniture. The objects will be with the V and A for about three years and a number of them will be on display to the public.