§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will state, following her Written Answer to the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mrs. Miller) relating to the purchase of a painting from Mentmore Towers by the National Gallery of Scotland, Official Report, 9th May 1977, column 402, what the cost to the National Gallery, London, was of the purchase of the portrait of Madame de Pompadour by Drouais from the same collection, after allowing for relief from estate duty and capital gains tax.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonThe price was negotiated privately between the National Gallery and the late Earl of Rosebery's estate, and it is felt to be to the advantage of the national collections that details of such private negotiations should not be disclosed.