HL Deb 05 March 1998 vol 586 cc186-8WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will review their policy on borrowing works of art from national and publicly owned collections for the adornment of government ministries and private offices. [HL771]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

No. The specific purpose of the government art collection is to promote Britain's profile at home and abroad through the display of British works of art. Works of art are therefore hung in embassies and other government buildings, including ministerial offices, which are regularly visited by a wide variety of people from outside government. The majority of the works of art on display are the property of the government art collection. A small number of works of art, if not required for inclusion in public display or exhibition, are also borrowed from other national collections from time to time, normally via the government art collection.