HC Deb 17 October 1972 vol 843 cc53-4W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the views of the directors of national museums and galleries regarding the possible export of items of national importance were obtained before the decision was made to increase the amount of the open general licence from £2,000 to £4,000.

Mrs. Thatcher

My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General received comments from eight of the directors of the national museums and galleries before the change was announced.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations were held with the directors of national museums and galleries before the decision was made to discontinue the requirement that photostatic copies of documents should be provided with any application for an export licence.

Mrs. Thatcher

My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General consulted the Keeper of Manuscripts at the British Museum, who as the Department of Trade and Industry's expert adviser on the national importance of manuscripts, documents and archives, sees all applications for licences to export them. The directors of all the national museums and galleries were informed of the proposal before it was announced.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will increase by an appropriate proportion the annual purchasing grants of the national museums and galleries to enable them to acquire items of national interest, which might otherwise be exported, following the increase in the amount of the open general licence for antiques from £2,000 to £4,000.

Mr. van Straubenzee

No. The evidence from licence applications indicates that the raising of the minimum level of export control from £2,000 to £4,000 will result in no significant increase in pressure on the annual purchasing grants of the national museums and galleries.