Hansard

The Convener SNP

Time is very tight, so I request that questions and answers remain succinct.I invite short opening statements from the members of the panel.

Sir Peter Hutchison (Burrell Trustees)

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to present to you this information. I am sure that the committee will, from its earlier hearings, be familiar with mu...

The Convener SNP

Thank you, Sir Peter. Mr Taylor, do you wish to make an opening statement?

Robert Taylor (Bannatyne Kirkwood France & Co)

I will, if I may, madam convener.I have acted as the legal adviser for the trust since 1984, and before that, my firm has acted for the trust for as long as ...

The Convener SNP

Thank you very much, Mr Taylor.I begin by addressing Sir Peter Hutchison about the fact that the trustees were opposed to changing the will in 1997, as Mr Ta...

Sir Peter Hutchison

My understanding is not that the law changed as a result of the 1997 finding by the four House of Lords representatives, but that they came out with a recomm...

The Convener SNP

Have the trustees changed their minds about lending because they are persuaded by evidence about improved methods of transportation, for example?

Sir Peter Hutchison

Yes, that is one of a number of factors. It is clear that, on the whole, transportation is now safer. I would not put too much emphasis on that, because quit...

The Convener SNP

I see. My colleague Mark Griffin will ask some more detailed questions about the discrepancy between the agreement and the will that Mr Taylor has outlined, ...

Sir Peter Hutchison

I absolutely take your point and agree with it. Technically, the pastels could be lent abroad. However, perhaps it might help if I gave an example of how, in...

The Convener SNP

It has been pointed out to us that, although the Burrell collection has many jewels, its heart and soul are the medieval tapestries. A blockbuster touring ex...

Sir Peter Hutchison

As you say, the tapestries are one of the biggest jewels in the crown, if you like. There is huge variety in the robustness of the tapestries. Quite a lot of...

The Convener SNP

My final question concerns the need to refurbish the gallery—you made clear in your opening statement how important that is to you. During our tour of the co...

Sir Peter Hutchison

I will answer your last question first. The refurbishment of the gallery is closest to our hearts and we welcome it enormously. As to the money, I suppose th...

The Convener SNP

It seems that without the £15 million the sums do not add up.

Sir Peter Hutchison

You are quite right. I am a little hesitant on the figures, because £45 million sounds like a nice, tidy round sum and these things tend to vary over the yea...

The Convener SNP

Jackson Carlaw has a quick supplementary.

Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con) Con

You have mentioned the Barnes collection a couple of times. Obviously, you will have to make similar decisions to those of the Barnes trustees.When that coll...

Sir Peter Hutchison

You are right that there has been damage; nobody would deny that, although people sometimes make it sound rather less than it is. There is no guarantee that ...

Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab) Lab

Why do you think that Sir William stipulated in his will and in the agreement that the building where the collection is housed should contain only the collec...

Sir Peter Hutchison

What you say is right. For quite a long time, the practice has been to include temporary loans of subjects that are related to a Burrell exhibition. For exam...

Mark Griffin Lab

So the trustees and Glasgow Life are already operating against Sir William’s will and agreement by displaying items from outside the collection.

Sir Peter Hutchison

I do not think that the provision was absolute.

Robert Taylor

One distinction to draw is between permanently exhibiting at the Burrell collection items that were not donated by Sir William or Lady Burrell or acquired by...

Mark Griffin Lab

Okay. You expect that to continue with the new borrowing power, so that no item would be permanently displayed with the collection.

Robert Taylor

Absolutely. It is in the lending code. I can assure you of that.

Sir Peter Hutchison

The integrity of the collection, which I think is really what Sir William was getting at, is of great importance to us. We would never wish to sanction an ex...

Mark Griffin Lab

Thank you. We have spoken already about the difference between the will and the agreement. The will specified certain items that Sir William did not want to ...

Sir Peter Hutchison

I am honestly not sure why Sir William came to a different conclusion when the two documents were drawn up. I think there was quite a time difference between...

Mark Griffin Lab

Do you think that in lending some of the delicate items that were not specified in the agreement but which were specified in the will, Glasgow Life is perhap...