§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the Government's position in relation to the possible 483W harmonisation within the EEC of laws concerning artists' resale rights.
§ Mr. EyreI have been asked to reply. According to its programme for 1980, the Commission of the European Communities intends making a proposal for a directive aimed at the harmonisation of laws on resale rights to ensure payment to artists of a share in any profit made on sales of their works. In pursuit of this objective, the Commission held a meeting in June with representatives of artists, art auctioneers and galleries, but has not yet involved Governments. The subject of resale rights was considered by the Whitford committee on copyright and designs law, which, in its report (Cmnd. 6732), which was issued in 1977, recommended against the introduction of such rights in the United Kingdom. The Government are now examining the subject further in order to take an active part in discussions on any proposals which the Commission may make and in order to deal with it in the Green Paper on copyright reform which is currently being prepared.