Lord CHELWOODasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will set up a Department of Trade inquiry into the circumstances in which imitations of the works of Samuel Palmer and other artists have been offered to the public by art dealers and fine art auctioneers.
Lord ORAMI understand the police have begun an investigation concerning these works. Anyone who has evidence that a criminal offence may have been committed should report it to the police. The Department of Trade's statutory powers of investigation under the Companies Acts are not appropriate to the circumstances in which these works have been offered to the public.