Guido has got hold of the bill for restoring the art decorating Whitehall departments. In the last two years alone the taxpayer has spent £168,515 touching up 829 paintings and sculptures. Many of the restorations couldn’t be valued so the real figure will be much higher. 

The frame and canvas of this oil painting of Charles II needed restoring. Cost to the taxpayer: £14,344.

Taxpayers also spent £6,747 repairing this large lump of bronze (above). And over five grand for this strange bowl thing:

Unbelievably, repairing this neon sign cost over two grand:

The government art collection is believed to be worth several BILLION pounds and most of it is never seen by the taxpayers who own it. Wouldn’t it be better to sell it off to galleries and ease cutbacks elsewhere?