§ 8. Mr. Fletcherasked the Minister of Works what are the reasons which prevent his Department from accepting ownership of articles of archaeological value discovered as a result of excavations for commerical purposes, such as those contemplated by the Esso Petroleum Company.
§ Lord John HopeThe treatment and display of newly discovered articles of archaeological interest is a responsibility proper to museums. My Department's functions are limited by Statute to the care and protection of structural monuments. This long-established distinction works satisfactorily, and I see no reason to disturb it.
§ Lord John HopeThere may be a general question here, of course, but I am bound to repeat to the hon. Lady that I am not going against what is the generally accepted rule for drivers in other organisations apart from my own Ministry.
§ Following is the answer:
§ Mr. FletcherIs not this an absurd inter-Governmental muddle? Is not the Minister aware that the Esso Petroleum Company, which is promoting the Bill, has agreed that if, in the course of excavations for its pipeline, it finds any material of archaeæological or historical interest it is prepared to hand it over to the Government? All that we are asking the Minister to decide is that he will accept it. Cannot he make arrangements with the Treasury so that either he or the museums will accept anything of interest which is found?
§ Lord John HopeIt is not the practice for us to receive anything of this sort, and I do not see why we should make an exception in this case. The Esso Petroleum Company has been extremely 201 co-operative and has agreed to make anything that it finds available to the museums. I do not want to alter a practice which is working extremely well. If it did not work well, then I think that it would be wise to alter it.