§ 42. Mr. Colin ShepherdTo ask the Minister for the Arts if he will use his powers to prevent the departure from the United Kingdom of the Hereford Mappa Mundi in the event of its purchase by a buyer who seeks to export it.
§ Mr. LuceI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I have given this afternoon to the hon. Member for Southwark and Bermondsey (Mr. Hughes). Should a sale prove necessary, and an application for an export licence be made, this will be dealt with under our existing procedures. I cannot anticipate decisions on export applications.