§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many paintings lent to his Department by the Government art collection have been officially classified as missing; if he will list them with their painters; what action is being taken to investigate how they have come to he missing; what is the estimated market value of the missing paintings; if they were insured; and what evidence he has of theft.
§ Mr. SoamesA list of 205 works of art which the Government art collection was unable to locate was circulated throughout my Department at the beginning of the year. I shall arrange for a copy of this list to he placed in the Library of the House.
The list was circulated with a request that individual members of staff check works of art for which they are responsible and report any which appeared on the list. As a result, 19 works have been located so far.
The Government art collection does not provide my Department with valuations of the works of art it lends. In accordance with Treasury guidelines on Government property, my Department does not insure these works of art.
The losses of 13 of the works on the list have been investigated by the Ministry of Defence police as apparent cases of theft. Unfortunately, in 12 of the cases the work has not been recovered, nor has the institution of criminal or disciplinary proceedings proved possible. A further case is under investigation.