§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will introduce legislation to prevent buying and selling premiums being charged at art sales;
(2) if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading, as an unfair trading practice, the use by art dealers of selling and buying premiums;
(3) if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading the matter of the percentages charged by art galleries to artists for exhibition and sales of individual artists' work, with a view to establishing a fair and uniform practice throughout the United Kingdom.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimWe see no need for legislation. The Director General of Fair Trading is, however, already investigating the introduction of a buyer's premium by Sotheby and Christie as a possible restrictive trade practice. The regulation of percentages charged by art galleries for exhibitions and sales of artists' work would not be justified; the Government prefer to rely on the forces of competition.