HC Deb 13 March 1984 vol 56 cc86-7W
Mr. Key

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what has been the average length of time taken by the Review Committee on the Export of Works of Art between receiving an application and announcing a decision in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Averages for each of the past 10 years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. During this period the interval between the receipt of an export licence application by the committee and the announcement of the Minister's decision has been, with a few exceptions, between four and six weeks. However, in certain circumstances, such as when an exceptionally large number of referrals occur around the same time, the delay may be longer. In addition, time must be allowed between the submission of an application to the Department of Trade and Industry and its referral to the committee; this can take up to four weeks, depending on the consultations that may be needed before the expert adviser decides whether or not to oppose export.

Mr. Key

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts what has been the cost of running the Review Committee on the Export of Works of Art in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Waldegrave

Members of the review committee and the chairman are unpaid, but receive reimbursement for travel and subsistence. The time of the departmental officials and expert advisers involved cannot be readily costed; such costs are borne within the budget of their individual Departments and institutions.

Records of committee expenditure prior to April 1981 have not been retained. Expenditure for committee hearings over the last three financial years was as follows:

£
1981–82 1,017
1982–83 2,255
1983–84 8,402

Expenditure rose in 1983–84 partly because of the increased caseload in that period but mainly because of the introduction of repayment arrangements for the use of accommodation for the hearings of the committee; accommodation had previously been available to the committee free of charge from the Property Services Agency.

Mr. Key

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if the Minister for the Arts will consider raising the £8,000 threshold applicable to the Review Committee on the Export of Works of Art; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Waldegrave

The review committee considered raising the £8,000 limit beyond which individual licences must be obtained to export works of art, antiques and so on, in 1983, in the context of an overall review of monetary limits. The present limit was established in 1977 and its purpose is to establish a relatively simple and easily administered method of ensuring that items likely to be of outstanding national importance should not be exported without special scrutiny, and at the same time to allow the bulk of low-valued items to be exported without unnecessary restricions. The committee concluded that at present £8,000 is an appropriate figure for this purpose. The question is kept under regular review.

Mr. Key

asked the Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts, if the Minister for the Arts will consider reviewing the criteria which guide the Review Committee on the Export of Works of Art.

Mr. Waldegrave

The criteria established by the Waverley committee in 1952 have been used by the reviewing committee since its inception and have stood the test of time. It is, of course, always open to the committee to recommend changes where it thinks them desirable, on this as on other aspects of export control procedure. The committee in its turn has an advisory council, representing heritage interests in the public and private sectors, which can tender advice as necessary.