HL Deb 06 February 2002 vol 631 cc99-100WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 16 January (WA 166), whether they will be “monitoring and reviewing” the proposed loan from the Royal Armouries to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, United States; and [HL2573]

Further to the Written answer by Baroness Blackstone on 16 January (WA 166), whether insurance for the proposed loan from the Royal Armouries will be covered by the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum or by the Government's indemnity scheme; and [HL2574]

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 16 January (WA 166), whether the Royal Armouries has provided the Government with details of how it will generate fund-raising revenue at no expense to the taxpayer: and [HL2575]

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 16 January (WA 166), whether they are satisfied that the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum, which has yet to be built, will have the expertise and facilities to look after items from the national collection at the Royal Armouries to appropriate standards; and [HL2576]

Further to the Written Answer by Baroness Blackstone on 16 January (WA 166), whether, in the light of the coverage that has been given to the proposed loan from the Royal Armouries and that of the Parthenon Sculptures at the British Museum, they are considering the introduction of guidelines to cover all loans from government-sponsored museums and galleries. [HL2577]

The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)

It is for the trustees of the Royal Armouries to carry out the monitoring necessary to ensure that the terms and conditions of the proposed loan to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Kentucky are met in full within the framework of their governing legislation.

The proposed loan will be insured by the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Museum in accordance with the Royal Armouries' standard overseas loan terms. which require the receiving institution to provide cover.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is waiting to receive a business case from the Royal Armouries setting out its plans in detail for an arrangement with the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville. Kentucky, USA.

The Board of Trustees of the Royal Armouries will sanction the loan of items from its national collection to the Owlsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum only if it agrees to meet the terms and conditions of that loan in full.

There are no plans to introduce guidelines on the loan of items from government-sponsored museums. These loans are a matter for the trustees of those museums with reference to their governing legislation.