The Scotsman

What use is heritage? I hope the Executive is asking itself that very question - and that it finds a positive answer, too, as it considers what to do about Dumfries House which, after three years of debate, is about to be sold by the Marquis of Bute. If a rescue package isn't forthcoming, Christie's will sell the contents at auction in London on 12-13 July. The total asking price for the house and contents is around £22 million. The Executive's share of this would be £5 million - really not very much, but crucial to the success of the whole campaign to acquire the house for the public good. For if the Scottish Executive will not back it, why should anyone else? The National Heritage Memorial Fund is debating whether to put up £7 million, but seems to be waiting for the Executive before it makes its own decision public. More than two-thirds of the sale value is the furniture. Such a pricetag indicates that it is outstanding, but cannot indicate how important it really is as a collection - the house still contains virtually all of its original furniture.