Selling the family silver
politics.guardian.co.uk
Staff and agencies
Thursday October 18, 2001
Gordon Brown's reputation for prudence has been taken to new extremes, it emerged today.
As economists around the world sound dire warnings of economic gloom, the Treasury has taken steps to shore up the nation's coffers - by putting antique silver up for sale. Six lots of s17th century silverware, including candlesticks, snuffers, trays and meat skewers, will go under the auctioneer's hammer later this month, when they are expected to fetch at least £100,000.
The Treasury today rejected any suggestion that the chancellor was "selling the family silver" in an attempt to balance the books following the September 11 terror attacks. The spokesman said that the sale was part of a long-planned programme across government to dispose of assets considered surplus to the nation's requirements. The silver sale followed the production of the National Asset Register - a latter-day Domesday Book drawn up in Labour's first year in office - listing everything the government owns.
"It is part and parcel of the disposal of assets that was set out in the national asset register," the spokesman said. "We are urging all departments to make better use of their assets, and it would be unusual if the Treasury didn't seek to do the same." The items, which are being auctioned by Bonhams and Brooks in London, include silver wick trimmers engraved with the royal coat of arms, made in 1603 during the reign of William of Orange for meetings of the privy council. |
