§ Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what steps were taken to obtain independent commercial opinion as to the market value of the Water Newton treasure trove before the amount of the reward to the finder was determined;
(2) what proportion of the full market value of the Water Newton treasure trove the reward paid to the finder was designed to represent.
§ Mr. Joel Barnett, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 3rd November 1975; Vol. 899, c. 6], gave the following information:
The ex gratia payment represented the assessed full market value. It is not normal practice to consult dealers formally, and it was not done on this occassion. The valuation was assessed by the British Museum in consultation with colleagues 155W in the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge as well as in the Kaiseraugst Museum at Basel in Switzerland, and following a search of sale-room catalogues and published prices for relevant comparanda.