HL Deb 16 March 1998 vol 587 c99WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport took advice from the directors of national museums and galleries before suggesting that their contents should be hired out to furnish the United Kingdom premises of bankers, lawyers, accountants and others. [HL885]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State has informal discussions with the directors of a number of national museums and galleries from time to time on a range of subjects, and the subject of the loans policy of these institutions has been touched upon. The funding of works of art or artefacts from the national museums and galleries is a matter for the trustees of each institution. At this stage no formal advice on the matter has been sought or given.