HL Deb 15 June 1999 vol 602 cc13-4WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What plans they have to safeguard university collections from being sold.[HL2750]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

In cases where the collections form part of a registered university museum, the terms of the Museum Registration Scheme operated by the Museums & Galleries Commission (MGC) lay down strict rules governing disposals. Breach of these rules would result in loss of registered status.

The MGC has also issued guidelines on the legal status of museums' collections in the United Kingdom and the safeguarding of items therein.

Where a collection is held by a university but not constituted as a museum, the MGC regulations do not apply. In these circumstances any proposed disposal is a matter for the academic body itself.