§ Lord Marlesfordasked the Chairman of Committees:
Who is the legal owner of works of art and other artefacts in the Palace of Westminster; and who would be able to decide to sell any such articles. [HL988]
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Tordoff)Under powers granted by the Parliamentary Corporate Bodies Act 1992, the Government transferred ownership of property to the Corporate Officer of each House. In the case of the House of Lords, the Corporate Officer is the Clerk of the Parliaments. At no time has the Corporate Officer disposed of works of art or other artefacts, nor are there currently any plans to do so. However, there would not appear to be any legal bar to disposal, should the appropriate domestic committees so decide.