§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Lord Privy Seal, whether his attention has been called to the recent purchase, partly out of funds subscribed by private munificence and partly out of public moneys, of the remaining panel of the famous mediaeval tapestry to complete the panels of the seven deadly sins, now housed at Hampton Court Palace; and whether, having regard to the urgent need for rigid economy in the expenditure of public funds, and also the desirability of preventing priceless art treasures from being purchased and removed out of the country by the tempting offers of American millionaires or foreign purchasers, the Government will introduce legislation on the lines after that passed by the Italian Government prohibiting such treasures being exported from the country, at any rate until the financial position is such as to enable British subjects or the Treasury to purchase these treasures for the benefit of the community?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am aware of the facts stated in the first part of the question. As at present advised the Government are not prepared to introduce legislation on lines of that in force in Italy to prohibit the removal of art treasures from the country. The Committee of Trustees of the National Gallery reported in 1916 that "it is inadvisable to legislate on the lines of the Italian law for the restriction or prohibition of the export of works of art from this country."