HC Deb 29 November 1966 vol 737 cc79-80W
103. Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take urgent action to purchase on behalf of the nation, before it is sold abroad, the first half of William Caxton's manuscript translation of Ovid's Metamorphoses, which may be in Caxton's own script.

Miss Jennie Lee

The Government regret that they are unable to make a grant for this purpose. The Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art originally recommended on 6th September that an export licence for the manuscript should not be issued for three months. They have now recommended an extension of a further month until 6th January, in order to give Magdalene College, Cambridge, the chance of raising the sum required. I have accepted this recommendation.