§ Mr. StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on improving access to the collections of the national galleries of Scotland. [20610]
§ Mr. Michael ForsythI am anxious that the people of Scotland should have the fullest possible opportunity to see and appreciate the country's heritage of art and design in appropriate surroundings. At present only one fifth of the Scottish paintings held by the national galleries of Scotland—NGS—are on permanent public view. It is right that action should to taken to improve the position.
To this end I am inviting the NGS trustees to consider the establishment of a new national loans scheme whereby coherent groups of good quality works of art from the national galleries are made available for exhibition at suitable local museums and galleries and other appropriate locations throughout Scotland. This initiative would also encourage local museums and galleries to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the heritage lottery fund to upgrade their facilities to a standard appropriate to housing works of national importance.
Deaths in Scotland, 1989–1995—suicides, accidents, etc. Suicide1 Undetermined2 Accidents3 Number Rate Number Rate Number Rate 1989 527 10.34 191 3.75 1,829 35.89 1990 535 10.49 214 4.19 1,784 34.97 1991 525 10.28 181 3.54 1,734 33.95 1992 569 11.13 224 4.38 1,580 30.91 1993 615 12.01 297 5.80 1,469 28.69 1994 624 12.16 210 4.09 1,413 27.53 1995 623 12.13 213 4.15 1,439 28.01 1 World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision. (ICD9) codes E950–E959. 2 ICD9 codes E98O–E989 (Injury undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted). 3 ICD9 codes E800–E929. Rates are per 100,000 population.