§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts what his Department estimates is the rise in inflation of sale room prices for works of art over the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 6 November 1989]: Based on information available for the period September 1979–July 1989 the rise in prices is as follows:
Percentage increase Old Master Paintings 266 19th Century European Paintings 254 Impressionist Paintings 974 Modern Paintings 880 Continental Ceramics 138 Chinese Ceramics 204 English Silver 188 Continental Silver 165 French and Continental Furniture 169 English Furniture 314 Aggregate 396