§ 73. Mr. Robert Cookeasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the light of her report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, 1974–75, she will institute a ministerial inquiry, in which the Treasury and the Minister responsible for the Arts are represented, into the causes of the dispersal abroad of works of art of national heritage importance.
§ Miss Margaret JacksonMy right hon. Friend has no plans to do so. The102W export of works of art is not a new development. As a result of the existing export control system, on which my right hon. Friend is advised by the Reviewing Committee, the great majority of works of national importance are retained in this country and bought by public collections, to which the Government give substantial acquisition grants.