Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 18 February 1954.
Mr Maurice Edelman
, Coventry North
12:00,
18 February 1954
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what inquiries he has made since September, 1949, into the administration of the Tate Gallery; and what action he has taken in consequence.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
No formal inquiries into the administration of the Tate Gallery were instituted during the period to which the hon. Member refers. The Organisation and Methods Division of the Treasury undertook various assignments at the Gallery; and in 1952 an experienced civil servant was made availableby the Treasury to advise the trustees on a number of problems which had arisen in the internal management of the Gallery. In all these cases it has been for the trustees and not for my right hon. Friend to take such subsequent action as was appropriate.
Mr Maurice Edelman
, Coventry North
Were not these two investigations undertaken because allegations had been made of irregularities inside the Tate Gallery, and, in consequence of the first inquiry, was it not the case that a senior official of the publication department was dismissed; and, in the case of the second inquiry, was not action taken by the Treasury in order to put certain matters in order? In view of these new circumstances which are now disclosed, will the Financial Secretary not recommend to his right hon. Friend that a public inquiry should be instituted in order to allay the grave disquiet which is being felt?
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
I cannot accept a number of the implications in the hon. Member's supplementary question, but on the real point, as I understand it, at the end of his supplementary question, I would say that this matter has been, as my answer disclosed, very carefully looked at, and I am confident that the very distinguished body of trustees will do what is appropriate in the circumstances.
Mr Charles Fletcher-Cooke
, Darwen
Has the right hon. Gentleman considered the new situation that has arisen since the resignation of Mr. Graham Sutherland, and will he take that into account when keeping this matter under review, as I hope he will continue to do?
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
The resignation of the distinguished gentleman in question is an important aspect of the matter which will certainly be borne in mind.
Sir Eric Fletcher
, Islington East
Is the Financial Secretary aware that there is widespread disquiet, both at the irregularities that have taken place, and also, I think it fair to say, about the various errors of judgment which have been made, and since the Treasury is responsible for the appointment of these trustees, whether public or private, why does not the Minister decide to hold a public inquiry to allay the public anxiety which exists?
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
I do not accept the implication of public disquiet. As the hon. Member will be aware, the irregularities—if he has in mind the departures from the terms of the trust deed which the trustees have disclosed—took place over a number of years and in circumstances for which a good many of the present trustees were not responsible. I hope that the hon. Member will bear this in mind.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
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