HC Deb 17 March 1997 vol 292 cc382-3W
Mr. Tony Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what changes have been made for the care and protection of works of art following the publication of the National Audit Office report in March 1996. [20323]

Mr. Soames

My Department has responded positively to the NAO's recommendations. A new system of accountability has been introduced whereby the senior staff who borrow works of art are now held personally responsible for them. Staff who move works of art without permission will lose their entitlement to borrow works and may face disciplinary action. Works of art in our London headquarters buildings are now inspected every night by our guard force and these checks will soon be extended to all our works of art.

The NAO guidance on management of works of art has been circulated throughout the Department and a seminar on this subject will be held during March.

All works of art owned by the Department or borrowed from public collections will be managed centrally and a photographic record has been compiled.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many of the 190 works of art missing from Defence establishments have been located since the publication of the National Audit Office report in March 1996; [20324]

(2) what steps he is taking to recover works of art missing from his Department's establishments. [20325]

Mr. Soames

The National Audit Office report states that, in November 1995, 184 works of art were missing. Of these, 107 were the property of my Department and the remainder were loans from other institutions. Since the publication of the NAO report, two of those belonging to my Department have been found.

Every effort is made to recover missing works of art. Details have been circulated to all staff and an inspector in the Ministry of Defence police has been given responsibility for finding missing works. Photographs of these have been published in my Department's staff magazine with a request that they should be notified to the police inspector if they are identified. We continue to make periodic searches of our buildings.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many paintings have been sold at auction by his Department in each of the past 10 years; and what were the sums realised. [20326]

Mr. Soames

No paintings have been sold at auction by my Department.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the painting of an officer of the 28th Foot on loan from the national army museum has been located. [20327]

Mr. Soames

My Department's response to the National Audit Office report stated that, despite a thorough investigation by the Ministry of Defence police, the portrait of an officer of the 28th Foot has not been found. This remains the case.