Miss MclntoshTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what the bidding process for the Privy Council silverware will be when it is offered for sale to institutions willing to display the items to the UK public; whether preferred institutions will be selected; by whom; on what criteria; whether(a) public and (b) charitable funds will be used for a national museum to 45W secure the silverware; whether it is her policy that the four lots will be kept together in one institution; what her policy is on the acceptable level of public access to the silverware, and if there will be admission charges; and what recent discussions she has had with other departments on the retention of assets of cultural significance held by Government Departments; [44252]
(2) if he will make it his policy that the purchaser of the Privy Council silverware shall not impose admission charges for public access; [44251]
(3) if he will specify an acceptable level of public access to the Privy Council silverware after sale; [44250]
(4) if it is his policy that ihe Privy Council silverware should be kept together in one institution; [44249]
(5) what will be the process for offering the Privy Council silverware for sale; [44246]
(6) if it is his policy the purchaser of Privy Council silverware must be willing to display the items publicly. [44247]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithI have been asked to reply.
Current plans are for the Government to identify institutions willing to display the items to the UK public. These institutions would then be invited to submit bids against specified criteria. These criteria would cover both the arrangements for display and the proposed price. Admission charges will not be a criterion; nor will the bidding institution's source of funding. The items would be sold as a single group.