§ Mr. MossTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will publish the latest valuation of the Government"s art collection. [184375]
§ Estelle MorrisIt 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 purchase or sale or by professional valuation. In the former case, the collection is not actively traded; in the latter, it would not be justifiable expenditure of public funds to have the whole collection valued professionally.