§ Mr. Hall-Caineasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the recent dispute as to the authenticity and value of the Giorgione panels recently purchased for the National Gallery and of the grant made for the purchase in question, he will cause an inquiry to be made into the circumstances of the purchase and as to the present value of the panels in question?
1280W
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleNo, Sir. The Purchase of Pictures Grant-in-Aid is placed at the disposal of the trustees of the National Gallery for the acquisition of such pictures as in the light of all the circumstances they consider most to the advantage of the Gallery. It does not appear to me that the exercise of their discretion in this particular instance can reasonably be made the subject of an inquiry.