Section K3: Government Indemnity Scheme
Purpose and Effect
This Section reserves the Government Scheme under which libraries, museums, art galleries and other bodies or person may be indemnified in respect of loss of or damage to works of art lent to other institutions, bodies or persons.
General
In order to encourage public access to works of art and other objects on loan, the Government encourages loans of works to museums, galleries, libraries etc. by relieving them of the cost of commercial insurance by undertaking to indemnify the lender for the loss of, or damage to, the object loaned. This is known as the “Government Indemnity Scheme”, which is established under powers conferred on Ministers by the National Heritage Act 1980.
Details of Provisions
Legislative competence in respect of the subject-matter of sections 16 and 16A of the National Heritage Act 1980 is reserved. Section 16 sets out the conditions under which Ministers may undertake to give indemnities and section 16A requires them to make reports to Parliament.
