Parthenon Sculptures Debate
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Viscount Hailsham
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Parthenon Sculptures
Viscount Hailsham Excerpts(3 days, 13 hours ago)
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Viscount Hailsham (Con)
My Lords, given that our museums are stuffed full of artefacts acquired from abroad, frequently in rather doubtful circumstances, returning the sculptures will be a most unfortunate precedent.
Baroness Twycross (Lab)
We have a clear view that museums are independent of government; this is one of the principles that we adhere to. There are clear examples of museums returning items. As I said, however, the current position is that the British Museum is not planning to permanently return the Parthenon marbles, and that remains its position.