§ Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement regarding the provision of public funds to assist the National Gallery to obtain the Titian painting the "Death of Actaeon".
§ Mrs. ThatcherI am glad to tell the House that the Gallery has now raised the sum of £381,500 by special appeal and the Government have authorised a special grant of a similar sum. In addition, a special advance is being made of £450,000 to be repaid from future purchase grants at £150,000 a year for three years. Eight hundred and thirty-one thousand, five hundred pounds will therefore be made available from the Contingencies Fund in the first instance. Parliamentary approval will be sought in the normal way by means of a supplementary estimate.