§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further help she is prepared to offer the City of Birmingham Art Gallery in its need to raise £77,500 by 11th July in order to secure the second Canaletto painting of Warwick Castle.
§ Mr. OakesI refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to his Question on 3rd April.—[Vol. 947, c. 54.] Since then my noble Friend has accepted the recommendation of the reviewing committee on the export of works of art that the export licence be suspended for a further two months, and the director of the Victoria and Albert Museum has also offered a further sum of £30,000 from the museum's fund, thus making a total contribution of £167,500 this year from central Government funds.
The two pictures, which are magnificent, are on show at the National Gallery, which is mounting an appeal for them which has begun very well.