§ 48. Captain EDENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the sale to foreign nationals, and consequent loss to this country, of certain of our national art treasures; and whether he will consider the possibility of imposing an export duty to check the expansion of this practice?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am not unaware of the circumstance to which the hon. and gallant Member calls attention. The remedy that he suggests is one which I understand has already been considered and rejected on several occasions.
§ Captain EDENWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that now almost every other country which possesses art treasures has regulations in force much more stringent than those suggested in the question?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am quite sure that everybody has sympathy with the object which the hon. and gallant Member has 1892 in view, but this matter has been considered times without number, and the possibility of working an export duty is very remote indeed. The hon. and gallant Member will realise how very easy it is to evade an export tax of this kind, and what irritating restrictions would be involved. I think, if there were such an export duty, every article of export would have to be very carefully examined by the Customs authorities.