Written question asked by Peter Ainsworth (Conservative) on Thursday, 1 March 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 March 2001. It was answered by Lord Smith of Finsbury (Labour) on Monday, 12 March 2001 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dept for Culture Media and Sport

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what recent representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the value thresholds applying to works of art for which export licences are required; and if he will make a statement. - Including figure. (Holding answer 6 March 2001).

Answer: Mr. Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has made to the European Commission regarding the value thresholds applying to works of art for which export licences are required; and if he will make a statement. [152625] Mr. Chris Smith: [holding answer 6 March 2001]: The financial thresholds were most recently discussed on 2 March at a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Cultural Goods, at which my Department made representations about a current proposal to change the date for conversion from euro into sterling, which will effectively reduce the thresholds by 20 per cent. In addition, my Department also made representations about the need for a review of the financial thresholds to, at least, update them in line with inflation. As a result, the European Commission has agreed to consider a review next year, in order to give Her Majesty's Government an opportunity to explain our concerns in detail.

Secondary information