§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Minister for the Arts pursuant to the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the hon. Member for Skipton and Ripon (Mr. Curry) on 17 February,Official Report, column 152, what further consideration he has given to the matter of discussions with the art market about Bohemian carvings.
§ Mr. RentonI will tomorrow be meeting with my consultative group on the export of works of art after 1992, on which there are representatives of the major art trade associations and auction houses. I will therefore take the opportunity to draw the matters of the Bohemian wood carvings to its attention, and I will follow this up in a letter. The hon. Member is no doubt aware of the voluntary code of practice adhered to by the art trade in the United Kingdom, whereby it undertakes not to deal in stolen works of art. I am sure it will wish to assist in the recovery of any wood carvings which might appear on the market.