§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is precluded in principle by any current convention or rule from applying for special extraordinary grants from the Treasury contingency reserve towards the purchase of particular outstanding works of art for public museums.
§ Mr. OakesNo, but if my right hon. Friend considered that a case for a special grant had been established she would first wish to be satisfied that no countervailing savings were already realised elsewhere in the arts budget.