§ 8. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider the desirability of taking powers to ensure that national treasures 1378 which are for sale, such as manuscripts, shall first be offered to the British Museum to ascertain whether the nation is disposed to make an offer for them?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)Compulsory notification to the British Museum or other body of impending sales of objects of national interest would require legislation, which, apart from any difficulty in dealing with the matter satisfactorily in that manner, it is not possible to introduce at the present time.