§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will outline the conditions under which a work of art, subject to an export licence, may be acquired by private individual.
§ Mr. RidleyThe acquisition of works of art is not a matter for me; I am concerned solely with export licensing. Works of art which might be subject to an export licence (whether or not an application for an export licence has been made) may be acquired by a private individual through a private sale at any time, if the owner so agrees.
On 2 March I announced that, in considering an application for a licence to export a work of art which meets the Waverley criteria, I proposed to take into account the existence of private offers, as well as offers by public institutions, to purchase the item, and said that I would be ready to consider any representations by persons affected by this refinement of policy.
I have received a number of representations in this connection which I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister for Arts and Libraries.