§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is her policy in the matter of the public purchase of the two Canalettos from Warwick Castle about to be exported from the United Kingdom;
(2) whether she will take steps to ensure that sufficient finance is made available to acquire the two Canalettos from Warwick Castle for future display in the art galleries of the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. OakesMy noble Friend has accepted the advice of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art that export licences for the Warwick Canalettos should be deferred to enable a public collection to make an offer to purchase. Two local collections, the Birmingham City Art Gallery and the Ashmolean Museum, have shown an interest in purchase. The Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum has offered £137,500 55W from the museum's fund to assist, local museums to purchase objects for their collections, a sum equivalent to half the purchase price of one of the paintings. This is by far the largest single grant ever offered from the Victoria and Albert Museum fund. Whether one or both of the paintings can be acquired now depends on whether the applicant institutions can find the money needed to cover the remainder of the cost. I am gratified to learn that offers of help are being made. The galleries have until 11th May to secure contributions.