LONDON—The Telegraph is reporting that spending is up on fine art acquired by the Government Art Collection, a group that purchases art to outfit government offices in Great Britain and around the world. In fact, the group spent £556,911 (or $905,221) on artwork over the past year, up 34% from a year ago and doubling what was spent from 2006 to 2007. The figure has some questioning whether the sum is too much, considering the current economic climate.

The controversy stems from the fact that the work is essentially paid for by taxpayers. Opines Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary: "It is deeply disturbing that during a recession the government is spending so much of taxpayers' money on additional material for the government's art collection." The Government Art Collection owns over 13,000 works of art, mostly from prominent British artists like John Constable, William Turner, and David Hockney.

Read more at the Telegraph.