§ Mr. Whitakerasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will revise the rules governing exports of works of art, in view of the criticisms in the latest report of the trustees of the National Gallery, a copy of which has been sent to him.
§ Miss Jennie LeeI have studied carc-fully the recent report of the trustees of the National Gallery. For the reasons given in my Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Alan Lee Williams) on 1st August, 1966 the Government is not able to agree to the proposed establishment of the Fund of £1 million for the purchase of major works of art nor do they accept as valid the criticisms arising from a comparison of the British and American systems of tax practice in this field. I regard the existing rules as preserving a fair balance in this difficult matter. A memorandum of guidance has recently been issued to the expert advisers which will, I hope, improve the working of the system in practice. This was done on the recommendation of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art.—[Vol. 733, c.42–7.]