§ Mr. Delargyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the increasing loss to the country of valuable antique furniture; and if he will seek powers to limit this loss of English art and craftsmanship.
§ Miss Jennie LeeNo objection to the proposed export of any piece of furniture has been received since 1965–66 when the responsibility for this work passed to the Department of Education and Science. The ordinary rules for export apply to furniture as to all other antiques within the scope of the export control. These rules are based on the criteria originally suggested in the Waverley Committee's Report namely:
- (1) Is the object so closely associated with our history and national life that its departure would be a misfortune?
196 - (2) Is the object of outstanding aesthetic importance?
- (3) Is the object of outstanding significance for the study of some particular branch of art, learning or history?
They are designed to ensure that no object of importance within the scope of the control is exported except after reference to an expert adviser and, if he enters an objection based on one or more of them, to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.