§ Lord Freybergasked Her Majesty's Government:
What conditions the Secretary of State for National Heritage will impose to ensure proper public benefit 59WA and to discourage private profit if she refuses to grant an export licence for Fra Bartolommeo's "Holy Family", now stopped while a private offer is considered.
§ Lord InglewoodA decision on the export licence application for Fra Bartolommeo's "Holy Family" has been deferred until after 8 May 1996 to give the opportunity for an offer to purchase to be made at or above the fair market price of £14,000,000. The primary purpose of the deferral is to allow time for a potential purchaser to come forward to keep the painting in the UK, and my department is aware of a serious intention to make a purchase offer. Under the Waverley system, it is for the present owner to decide whether to accept any forthcoming purchase offer. If such an offer were made and accepted, then the licence application would lapse. If such an offer were refused, then my department would take into account the existence of the purchase offer in determining the licence application. The primary objective of the Waverley system is to ensure that objects which fall within the criteria are kept within the United Kingdom. I have no plans to impose further conditions.