HC Deb 06 December 1955 vol 547 c181
19. Mrs. White

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend to provincial art galleries the facilities now offered to national institutions to acquire works of art which might otherwise be exported and which it is considered to be in the public interest to retain in this country.

Mr. R. A. Butler

The terms of reference of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art extend to provincial museums and galleries as well as to the national institutions. In the period covered by its recent Report, only three out of seven cases considered by the Committee were referred by national institutions; and in each of the other four cases the Committee upheld an objection by a provincial institution to the grant of an export licence.

Mrs. White

Did the Treasury make any contribution towards the purchases in question? If so, could we be given the details, perhaps in the OFFICIAL REPORT?

Mr. Butler

I should have to look to see exactly what occurred. I do not think I could give an affirmative answer to that question without further examination.