HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc3-4
3. Mr. Gordon Prentice (Pendle)

Under what circumstances the Elgin marbles might be returned to Athens to mark the millennium. [41988]

The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Mr. Chris Smith)

The Government have no plans to return the Parthenon sculptures to Athens.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Mr. Prentice

I suspect that I may not have the House with me on this matter, Madam Speaker.

Thirteen years ago, the then leader of the Labour party, Neil Kinnock, said that the Parthenon without the marbles was like a smile missing a tooth, and pledged to return the frieze to Greece. If the case was so compelling 13 years ago, why is it not equally compelling now?

Mr. Smith

Although I sympathise with my hon. Friend's view, we have had time over the intervening 13 years to reflect on the matter, and it is clear that the Parthenon sculptures were legally and properly acquired. They have been kept in very good condition—very great care has been taken of them ever since—and they are seen, for free, by 6 million people a year from all over the world. We believe that the British museum is the best place to keep them.

Mr. Eric Forth (Bromley and Chislehurst)

Without pursuing the matter of Commissioner Kinnock's marbles, which might be indiscreet at this stage, may I welcome what the Secretary of State has said? The right hon. Gentleman will recognise that it would lead to absolute chaos if we started down the path of relocating works of art, wherever they are in the world. The best, safest and most proper position is the one that he is adopting.

Mr. Smith

It is rare for me to agree whole-heartedly with every word that the right hon. Gentleman says, but on this occasion I do, because he is right: if we were to open this question, a host of other questions about the location of works of art throughout the world would arise. I do not believe that anyone wants such questions to be reopened.

Mr. Robert Sheldon (Ashton-under-Lyne)

Is my right hon. Friend aware that 13 years ago I took this matter up with Mr. Neil Kinnock and that, with me at any rate, he did not seek to defend the position? Is he further aware that it would be one thing if the marbles could be placed on the Acropolis itself, but that it would be nonsense to take them from one museum and put them in another museum that is not as well looked after as ours?

Mr. Smith

My right hon. Friend is right to point out that the proposal is not that the marbles should be replaced on the Acropolis but that they should be housed on the Acropolis hill in a museum specially built for the purpose whose architecture has been widely criticised. The marbles were legally acquired; they have been where they are for a long period; and they are seen by many millions of people, not just from Britain but from around the world. We do not believe that the case for their return is in any way compelling.