§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will bring forward plans to encourage the painting of murals in hospitals and other National Health Service buildings;
332W(2) if he will bring forward plans to preserve existing murals in hospitals and other National Health Service buildings;
(3) if he will bring forward legislation prohibiting the further destruction by district health authorities in paintings on National Health Service property which contain nudes;
(4) if he will issue guidelines to district health authorities calling on them to consult the Minister for the Arts before they consider destroying paintings.
§ Mr. John PattenWe recognise the value of murals and other works of art in contributing to the internal environment of hospitals and other health buildings. The Department organised a conference at the King's Fund Centre in 1983 and has subsequently produced two publications, "Art in the NHS" and "The Arts in a Health District." I am placing copies of these in the Library. Decisions to display or to remove works of art are properly a matter for individual regional and district health authorities. Legislation would be quite inappropriate.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost to the National Health Service of the painting by the artist John Hewett of a nude Grecian mural at St. Bartholomew's hospital and its subsequent destruction by whitewash.
§ Mr. John PattenWe do not collect this sort of information about local matters. The hon. Member may wish to approach City and Hackney health authority for this information.