Want to know where David Cameron hangs art in Downing Street? Government won't say because it 'might help terrorists' 

  • Bizarre reason was cited to censor a response to a FOI request
  • Revealing which rooms paintings were in 'would increase the risk of criminal, including terrorist, attacks' 
  • FOI campaigners ridicule idea terrorists could use details to find their way around No10  

The portrait of Ada Lovelace, noted scientist and Lord Byron's daughter, that used to hang in Downing Street 

The portrait of Ada Lovelace, noted scientist and Lord Byron's daughter, that used to hang in Downing Street 

The government is refusing to reveal where David Cameron has art hung in Downing Street - because it could help terrorists.

The bizarre reason was cited as a justification for censoring a response to a Freedom of Information request.

The Prime Minister has access to thousands of classic and contemporary works in the Government Art Collection (GAC) to brighten up his offices.

MailOnline had asked for copies of correspondence between Number 10 and the GAC about what pieces were being used.

But after months of considering the implications for 'national security', the Department for Culture - which oversees the GAC - would only provide heavily blacked out material.

The response said: 'Disclosure of the requested information, in particular the location of certain pieces of art work, would increase the risk of criminal, including terrorist, attacks on 10 Downing Street and its staff, which could lead to serious harm to people, even loss of life, and damage to the structure of the building.

'It is not in the public interest to undermine the security of Downing Street, or provide information that could facilitate criminal attacks.'

The spokeswoman went on: 'Providing information about the layout of No.10 in particular could assist potential attackers, particularly terrorists, in planning and carrying out physical attacks against the Prime Minister and staff in his Office.'

The department did provide some details of what artworks feature in Downing Street.

In December 2014 the Number 10 facilities manager noted that he would need to clear the removal of Hendrick Danckerts' Whitehall from St James's Park 'with the PM direct'.

In its place the officials were hoping to install an oil painting of Wiltshire by George Lambert.

A portrait of Wellington by Robert Home was due to replace a portrait of mathematician Ada Lovelace, who helped Charles Babbage develop concept of the first computer, in time for the general election.

A portrait of 17th Century architect Kenton Couse, who designed the famous black door of Number 10, by Mason Chamberlin the elder was due to be moved in to replace a portrait of James I.

The portrait of the Duke of Wellington that was installed in a mystery location in 10 Downing Street
The famous front door of 10 Downing Street

The portrait of the Duke of Wellington that was installed in a mystery location in 10 Downing Street

Tracey Emin famously donated one of her neon installations, More Passion, for use in Downing Street in 2011.

The work lights up the hallway leading to the Terracotta Room on the first floor of Number 10.

Neighbouring rooms include the White Room, the Pillared Room and a study used by Margaret Thatcher.

The Pillared Room is often used for hospitality, so the Emin installation is regularly seen by visitors who are brought in up the main staircase where photographs of former prime ministers are hung.

The artist has said that when she went to Number 10 to discuss donating the installation 'the Prime Minister dragged me around a corner and said, 'Here it is, this is where we want the work'.

'I would obviously like to hang a neon in the really old part, it would look really good and give No 10 a bit of an edge ... but it's all listed and panelled.'

Maurice Frankel, of the Campaign for Freedom of Information, said it was 'almost impossible to imagine' how the location of artworks could help terrorists and criminals.

'Either Downing Street is secure against people breaking in or it is not. 

'I cannot see any reason why a terrorist attacking Downing Street would be interested in finding artworks.

'They would not bw breaking in to steal. It would make no difference to them whether they had put a Rembrandt or a Picasso in a certain room.

'It is a nonsensical response.' 

PMs USED THEIR OWN COLLECTIONS TO DECORATE DOWNING STREET  

Until the late 19th Century Prime Ministers were largely responsible for providing their own art for 10 Downing Street.

Early holders of the post - such as Sir Robert Walpole - took their collections with them when they left power.  

But in the late 1890s HM Treasury gave the Office of Works money for the purchase of art for Government buildings in London. 

The modern GAC evolved from that decision. 

It now contains over 13,500 works of art from the 16th century to the present day by mainly British artists in a broad range of media. 

They are displayed in British government buildings in nearly every capital city around the globe. 

Prime Minister David Cameron working in his offices in Downing Street

Prime Minister David Cameron working in his offices in Downing Street

One of the heavily censored pages of email correspondence that were eventually released in response to the FOI request

One of the heavily censored pages of email correspondence that were eventually released in response to the FOI request

 

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