§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthornasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer given by the noble Baroness, Lady Trumpington, on 23rd April 1966 (HL Deb. Col. 1013) whether they will place in the Library a copy of the "code of practice agreeing not to deal in illegally excavated or exported antiquities" to which "members of the United Kingdom antiquities trade subscribe"; and which members of the United Kingdom antiquities trade and which auction houses are subscribers to the code, and whether the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association has subscribed to it.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Lord Inglewood)A copy of the code of practice has been deposited in the Library today, together with a list of signatories. The Association of Art and Antique Dealers (formerly the London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association) has not signed the code. However, the association is a member of CINOA (Confederation Internationale des Negociants en Oeuvres d'Art), which has a similar code of practice. I have placed a copy in the Library.
§ Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthornasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any procedures to monitor the working of the code of practice agreeing not to deal in illegally excavated or exported antiquities to which members of the United Kingdom antiquities trade subscribe, and whether in any recorded case evident infractions of the code have led to disciplinary or punitive action or critical comment.
§ Lord InglewoodIt is for the members of the United Kingdom antiquities trade to monitor those members who have subscribed to the voluntary code of practice and to apply any appropriate sanctions for infraction of the code. This is an internal matter for the trade, and not one in which the Government are involved.