5 DECEMBER 1998, Page 34

The Tate on time

Sir: Contrary to Edward Heathcoat Amory's article (`The finger of disaster', 14 Novem- ber), the new Tate Gallery of Modern Art at Bankside is not in difficulties because of the need to match its lottery grant.

The project received the maximum grant of £50 million from the Millennium Com- mission and has to date more than matched that sum from other sources. I am happy to report that the new Tate Gallery of Mod- ern Art is both on time and on budget.

Nicholas Serota

Tate Gallery, Millbank, London SW1