Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of reports that Igor Tulchinsky funded a community centre in Efrat in violation of the UK's policy on settlement expansion prior to funding the Bayeux Tapestry Exhibition.

The Secretary of State has made no such assessment as national museums are operationally independent from the government, with decisions about commercial and philanthropic donations taken by their trustees. All national museums sponsored by DCMS operate within a mixed funding model, combining public funding with self-generated income.

The British Museum considers any donations in line with its published Acceptance of Donations and Sponsorship Policy. The Government’s policy is that the consideration of these matters remains the responsibility of the bodies concerned, and there are no plans to alter this.