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Written question asked by Lord Stevenson of Balmacara (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 July 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. It was answered by Baroness Twycross (Labour) on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Artworks: Export Controls

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Export Control Act 2002 in ensuring that works by artists and caricaturists of the Georgian age are protected from export and require the appropriate licence granted by the Secretary of State to be exported.

Answer

The export licensing process under the Act provides protections for objects over 50 years of age and above a certain value from permanent export if they are of national importance to the U.K by providing an opportunity for acquisition by a UK buyer committed to ensuring public access.

Export licensing is confidential in its nature. The Government has not assessed the impact of the Export Control Act 2002 in specifically ensuring that works by artists and caricaturists of the Georgian age are protected from export. Statistical information on export licences issued under the Act and case studies of items deferred from export each year are available in the annual report of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Arts and Objects of Cultural Interest.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL2459
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Cultural heritage Artworks Export controls
Legislation
Export Control Act 2002
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk