§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his estimate is of the value of the Government Art Collection. [99829]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthIt is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the value of the Government Art Collection, which has no current market valuation. The current monetary value of a work of art can be accurately assessed only at the time of its purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the Collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be a justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the whole Collection valued professionally.