§ Mr. Spellerasked the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State answering in respect of the Arts if Her Majesty's Government will introduce legislation to require that documents dating from before 1837 are copied or offered for copying before being exported following sale or auction.
§ Mr. WaldegraveUnder existing regulations export licences are required for all manuscripts or documents over 50 years old, unless they are the personal papers of the exporter or manufacturer or spouse of that person. The Department of Trade and Industry may make it a condition of export that a copy of the document concerned should be deposited in this country if the document is of British historical or literary interest.