§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Trade (1) if he will make a statement regarding the level of imports of tools, dies and jigs in 1976 compared with previous years;
(2) if he will make a statement regarding the level of exports of second-hand machine tools in 1976 compared with previous years.
§ Mr. Meacher,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 11th January 1977; Vol. 923, c. 473], gave the following information:
The value of trade was as follows:
realised from 1,000 to 10,000 francs to 6 per cent. of sums in excess of 50,000 francs.
French law gives a similar right in respect of public sales, but the rate is fixed at 3 per cent. of the gross price of the work.
In Germany when a dealer or auctioneer participates in the resale of a work of art—either as buyer, seller or broker—the artist has an inalienable right to require the seller to pay him a 1 per cent. share of the proceeds of any sale exceeding 500 DM.
Italian law gives artists an inalienable right to a percentage ranging from 1 per cent. to 5 per cent. of the amount by which the price at the first public sale exceeds the price at the first sale and to percentages ranging from 2 per cent. to 10 per cent. of the increases in value at successive sales, subject to certain minimum limits.
The whole question of droit de suite is discussed in the Report of the Whitford Committee on Copyright which will be published next month.