Works of Art

HC Deb 10 April 2000 vol 348 c59W

Mr. Brake

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much has been spent on(a) the upkeep and (b) the purchase of works of art in his Department for each financial year since 1992. [117479]

Mr. Ingram

The Department of Finance and Personnel for Northern Ireland is responsible for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Art Collection which is independent from the Government Art Collection.

Expenditure on the NICS art collection since 1992 is as follows:

£
	Upkeep	Purchase of works of art
1992–93	346	39,000
1993–94	290	30,000
1994–95	285	27,000
1995–96	270	39,000
1996–97	655	31,000
1997–98	215	23,000
1998–99	958	30,000
1999–2000	1,594	59,000

I would also refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Arts on 4 April 2000, Official Report, columns 393–94W.