§ Mr. Bishopasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been made to him regarding the need to restrict the export of archaelogical material and manuscripts; and if he will reduce the value at which licences are required for exports in order to keep together groups of materials worth less than the present limit of £2,000 and for the purpose of study and for the protection of our history.
§ Miss Jennie LeeIn 1968, the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art recommended that export control should be extended to a limited range of documentary material less than 100 years old. Manuscripts, documents and archives over 100 years old are already subject158W to export control irrespective of their value. I explained in my Answer on 13th March, 1969, that, after careful consideration, the Government had concluded that practical difficulties prevented the Reviewing Committee's proposals from providing the basis of a statutory control. An interdepartmental working party was subsequently established to consider the matter, and their conclusions were published as a Green Paper on 14th January. As I informed the House on 2nd December, a period of three months is now being allowed for interested persons and organisations to submit their views. Pending the expression of these views, no decisions will be taken by the Government on the working party's conclusions. In 1969, the Reviewing Committee recommended that British archaeological material should be subject to export control irrespective of its value. The Government have accepted this recommendation and the new arrangements will come into force on Monday next. 26th January.—[Vol. 799, c. 322–;3 Vol. 792, c. 264–5.]