asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about special Government assistance towards the recent acquisition of a Stubbs painting by the Tate Gallery.

The Trustees of the Tate Gallery have recently announced the acquisition from the Earl of Midleton of a very fine painting by Stubbs of a group of horses against a landscape background. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed, subject to the approval of Parliament, to make an Exchequer grant of £7,500 towards this important purchase; the Pilgrim Trust has generously offered to contribute £5,000; and the remainder will be found by the Trustees from the resources at their disposal. A Supplementary Estimate will be laid before the House in the spring: in the meantime the money will be advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.