Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what the Government's policy is on the (a) ownership and (b) home of the Maqdala Crown and treasures; and if she will make a statement.

Objects and manuscripts from Maqdala are in the collections of a number of cultural institutions in the UK. These institutions operate independently of the Government and the care of their collections is therefore a matter for the trustees of each institution. Some of the museums which hold material from Maqdala are prevented by legislation from deaccessioning items in their collections, except in some limited circumstances.