§ Mr. Matthew BanksTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what action she intends taking to ensure the retaining in the United Kingdom of the painting "The Panshangar Fra Bartolommeo" by Fra Bartolommeo; and if he will make a statement. [27265]
§ Mr. SproatThe Secretary of State has deferred a decision on the export licence application for Fra Bartolommeo's "Holy Family" until after 8 May 1996. The 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 the serious intention to make a purchase offer. It is for the owner of the painting to decide whether to accept any forthcoming offer. If such an offer were made and accepted, the licence application would lapse, the painting would become the property of the purchaser and would be retained in the UK. If such an offer were refused, the Secretary of State would take into account the existence of the purchase offer in making a decision on the licence application.