11 Downing Street: Artworks
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) removing portraits of men from 11 Downing Street and (b) procuring new portraits and paintings; what the process will be for procuring new portraits and paintings; and whether she plans to remove the portraits of former Chancellors of the Exchequer.
Answered by Chris Bryant
It is standard practice, as followed by the previous government, for new ministers to select works from the Government Art Collection for their ministerial offices. All such changes of displays of works from the Government Art Collection constitute 'business as usual' for the Collection, so all costs are met from within existing budgets. All the newly installed artworks are part of the Government Art Collection, and no works have been acquired or procured for this new display. The whole collection, which is about to celebrate its 125th anniversary, shows great British art at its best in ministerial offices, departments, museums, galleries, embassies and consulates. Its diversity is a key part of its appeal and its championing of British art at home and abroad.
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