§ Mr. FauldsTo ask the Minister for the Arts, pursuant to his answer, on the subject of export licences for works of art, of 21 January,Official Report, columns 119-22, whether a drawing by Poussin was jointly acquired by the Ashmolean and Fitzwilliam museums as stated in the answer, or solely by the Ashmolean museum as stated in his Department's typescript communication to the hon. Member for Warley, East; and why the customary specification of the acquiring institution was omitted in the case of the refusal of an export licence in respect of a drawing of a wooded river landscape with fishermen in a boat by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona.
§ Mr. RentonI can confirm that the drawing by Poussin, "A wooded landscape with low hills: a view of the Tiber", was acquired solely by the Ashmolean museum. An offer to purchase the drawing by Pietro Berrettini da Cortona, "A wooded river landscape with fishermen in a boat", was made by the British museum, at the recommended price, and was refused by the owner. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry took into account the existence of this valid offer to purchase, in refusing an export licence. The drawing continues to be held by the owner in the United Kingdom.