§ Sir H. Kerrasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the acquisition by the National Gallery of a painting by Poussin.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art considered an application for a licence to export Poussin's "Adoration of the Shepherds" in 1956. The Committee decided that the picture ought to be retained in this country and on its recommendation I agreed that a special grant of £12,000 should be made to the National Gallery toward the cost of purchase. The acquisition, at a price of £33,100, to which the National Art Collection Fund has contributed £3,000, has now been completed, and the amount of the grant has been advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund. A Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course.