THE bid to change the rules and allow Glasgow's Burrell Collection to tour overseas has won backing from a Scottish Government committee.

The city council's plan, which will alter the deeds of Sir William Burrell's gift to the city, has been examined by the Burrell Collection (Lending And Borrowing) Bill Committee.

Today it published a report supporting the city's bid to lift the shipping magnate's restrictions on overseas lending.

Councillor Archie Graham, depute council leader and chairman of Glasgow Life, which oversees the collection, today welcomed the committee's backing.

He said: "We are delighted the committee has backed our plans.

"This marks another huge step towards sharing Sir William's outstanding vision with an international audience whilst we refurbish the building that has been its home for the last 30 years.

"We have an agreement in place that fully addresses the concerns Sir William had about sending objects abroad.

"It recognises that the shipping and conservation of such precious items has developed significantly in the 60 years since Sir William made his bequest to Glasgow."

The city wants to tour the treasures of the Collection to between five and seven major international venues. While it is away the museum in Pollok Park that holds the Collection will get a £45million makeover.

In today's report, the committee said the "time has come to allow the collection to be seen by a wider audience". It recommended that the general principles of the Bill be agreed to.

Now the Bill will be considered by the full Scottish Parliament. If it passes through the parliamentary process it is expected the changes for oversea tours will be legal by early 2014.

MSP Joan McAlpine, the convener of the committee, said: "Our committee is persuaded it is sometimes appropriate to depart from the wishes of benefactors, particularly if the circumstances that may have led them to adopt a certain position have changed.

"The committee supports the aim of raising the Collection's profile and increasing access to its treasures, believing that Burrell wished the Collection to be shown.

"The focus of the decision in this is not whether Burrell would have wished to share the Collection through loans (we know that he did) but whether it is safe, nowadays, to do so outside Great Britain.

"As such, we are agreed the general principles of the Bill be agreed to."

However, the committee said it was "not fully convinced" by Glasgow's claim that a tour of the Burrell Collection would generate £15m contribution to the refurbishment of the building.

Sir William, who lived from 1861-1958, collected almost 9000 items reflecting his passion for art and history. He then donated the Collection to his home city.

But in his Deed Of Gift, Sir William said no works could be loaned overseas - as a shipping magnate, he feared the risks of overseas travel by boat.