I am particularly pleased to see that items previously accepted have been allocated across the country, ensuring that they are made accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

Baroness Blackstone

Arts minister Baroness Blackstone said: "Once again, the government's acceptance in lieu scheme has proved invaluable in enabling important cultural objects to be saved for the nation."

She said she was particularly pleased to see that the items were being made accessible to as wide an audience as possible.

Among the most recently accepted works is Constable's Harwich Lighthouse, worth around �840,000, from the early 19th Century.

The painting of the wooden structure is one of only a few of the artists' works that had remained in private hands.

French-born artist Pierre Subleyras's painting Diana and Endymion was accepted in lieu of a �630,000 tax bill.

The final destinations of the items the government has accepted are not yet known.

In the short term, the Subleyras will hang in the National Gallery, in London.

The furniture and tapestries come from three of the state rooms at Houghton Hall, in Norfolk, which Walpole built in the first half of the 1700s.

Items include three state beds, two entire suites of furniture and three sets of tapestries, all of which were among the hall's original furnishings.

Responsibility for looking after the artefacts goes to London's Victoria and Albert Museum.

Baroness Blackstone: Praise for tax scheme

Also accepted instead of tax were archives of the 13th, 14th & 15th Earls of Derby; an archive relating to the Eliot family of Port Eliot, St Germans, in Cornwall; and the archive of artist John Wharlton Bunney (1828-1882).

Baroness Blackstone's decision to accept the works followed a recommendation by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries.

A spokesman for Resource said: "I am delighted to see such a wide range of objects coming into public ownership".

Among the allocations of works previously accepted was a painting by the 17th-Century Dutch artist Gabriel Metsu.

This was given to English Heritage, and is set to be displayed at Kenwood House, in London.

The Gregory of Stivichall archive went to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

The Hazelrigg archive went to Leicestershire County Council for display at its record office.

And a Tintoretto painting known as Portrait of an Unknown Man went to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, to be displayed at Leighton House Museum.