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Mr. Faulds
asked the Lord Privy Seal in which year the issue of Government certificates of indemnity for loss of, or damage sustained by, works of art lent to British Council exhibitions was commenced; and what has been the total sum paid since that year in satisfaction of claims under such certificates of indemnity.
Mr. Blaker
The British Council's indemnity scheme for works of art borrowed from national institutions and private collections commenced in 1948. In the time available it has not been possible to obtain details of all payments since 1948, but over the past 10 years
| BRITISH COUNCIL |
| 1979–80, Class II, 4 |
| Notes: |
| 1. The Council's estimated total expenditure on its own activities in 1979–80 is £63,625,000 (£55,683,000 in 1978–79). Of this expenditure £22,493,000 (£20,112,000 in 1978–79) is in respect of the Council's activities for which provision is made in other Votes (See Appendix), Receipts, Y(1). In addition, expenditure by the Council as agents for the activities of other Government Departments in 1979–80 is estimated to amount to £37,502,000 and for international and other organisations to £5,500,000. Expenditure will be accounted for in detail by the British Council to the Comptroller and Auditor General, who is responsible for auditing the Council's accounts. Sums will be issued as necessary to meet estimated expenditure and to maintain a working balance of about £500,000 at the end of the year. The unexpended balance remaining at the end of the year will not be liable to surrender to the Consolidated Fund. |
| 2. Certain objects are borrowed by the British Council on a short-term basis from national institutions and private collections for particular exhibitions overseas. Indemnities are given to the owners against loss or damage to the objects while in the custody of the British Council. The approximate value of these indemnities at 1 January 1979 was £1,853,000. |
| CLASSIFICATION AND PROGRAMME ATTRIBUTION OF EXPENDITURE BORNE ON THIS VOTE | |
| Nature of Expenditure | Programme 2.2 Overseas Information £ |
| Public Expenditure: | |
| Current | 26,977,000 |
| Capital | 1,413,000 |
| Total | 28,390,000 |
| CASH LIMITS | |||
| This Vote is treated as a cash limit. | |||
| APPENDIX | |||
| BRITISH COUNCIL SUBHEAD DETAILS | |||
| 1978–79 | 1979–80 | ||
| £ | £ | £ | |
| 20,243,000 | A Salaries &c. | 24,603,000 | |
| 20,243,000 | (1) Salaries &c. of 2,576 staff in overseas countries | 24,601,000 | |
| — | (2) Loans to locally engaged staff for car and bicycle purchase and other assistance | 2,000 | |
| 7,419,000 | B General Expenses (Overseas) | 7,326,000 | |
| 3,674,000 | (1) Office rent, furniture, equipment and maintenance | 3,468,000 | |
| 3,745,000 | (2) Official transport, communications and miscellaneous expenses | 3,858,000 | |
| 11,394,000 | C Salaries &c. of 1,890 staff in London and United Kingdom Area Offices | 12,140,000 | |
| 5,671,000 | D General Expenses (Home) | 6,528,000 | |
| 2,216,000 | (1) Office rent, furniture, equipment and maintenance | 2,431,000 | |
| 3,455,000 | (2) Official transport, communications and miscellaneous expenses | 4,097,000 | |