To ask the Prime Minister what specific measures have been taken by Her Majesty's Government, alone or with other European Community countries, in order to (a) identify and (b) protect from permanent removal from the United Kindom national artistic treasures after the single market comes into completion in 1992.

The Waverly system has worked well in enabling us to identify and protect national artistic treasures without infringing the rights of owners and unnecessarily impeding the operation of the market. We are considering what measures might be needed to strengthen its operation in the changed conditions after 1992.