§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What criteria are applied by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to applications by national museums and galleries which wish to lend exhibits to individuals or museums and galleries overseas on a long-term basis in exchange for payment; and [HL2082]
68WAWhether they have received an application from the Royal Armouries Museum, or from any other national museum or gallery, to lend exhibits overseas on a long-term basis in exchange for payment; if so, what applications have been received; and when they were lodged. [HL2083]
§ Baroness BlackstoneMy department is waiting to receive a business case from the Royal Armouries setting out its plans for an arrangement with the Owsley Brown Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, Kentucky, USA. The proposal involves the long-term loan of items from the Royal Armouries under Section 21 of the National Heritage Act 1983 in exchange for payments. No similar proposals to lend exhibits overseas on a long-term basis in exchange for payment have been received from other bodies sponsored by my department.
National museums and galleries which wish to lend exhibits overseas are required to comply with the relevant legislation on the lending of exhibits. My department may call in for approval novel proposals, for example lending exhibits on a long-term basis in exchange for payment, to ensure that there is no risk to the collection and that value for money has been properly assessed.