§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what stocks of(a) antiques, (b) paintings and (c) fine wines are held by his Department; if he will list such assets sold over the last three years together with the sale proceeds from such transactions; what plans he has to sell further such assets over the period of the current comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement. [10834]
§ Mr. MacShane[holding answer 31 October 2001]: A description of the antiques and paintings in FCO properties appears in the FCO part of the national asset register. The Government wine cellar contains substantial stocks of fine wines for use at home. The FCO manages the cellar on behalf of the Government as a whole, and not exclusively for the FCO. The FCO owns no wine stocks overseas. No antiques, paintings or wines have been sold over the past three years and there are no plans to sell such items over the period of the current comprehensive spending review.