§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will reconsider the advisability of the ban on the export of the silver plaque "The Adoration of the Shepherds" by the Dutch silversmith Paulus van Vianen in view of its greater importance in Dutch art history than in the British heritage.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasNo. Although I recognise that the plaque is of importance for the history of art in the Netherlands, none-the-less I agree with the recommendation from the reviewing committee on the export of works of art that the plaque is also of national importance to the British heritage. I therefore decided that the export licence should be withheld.