§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What meetings have been held, and with whom, to discuss proposals to display the Elgin Marbles in Athens under the auspices of the British Museum; and when they expect to make an announcement about the outcome of such meetings. [HL3985]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyOn 11 May, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and the Minister for the Arts met with Alf Lomas MEP, Irini Lambarki MEP, Alexandros Ala vanos MEP, and Graham Binns and Christopher Price (of the British Committee for the Restitution of the Parthenon Sculptures). At that meeting, Christopher Price suggested that the British Museum could establish an outpost in Athens in which the Parthenon sculptures could be displayed whilst remaining the property of the Museum. It would be a matter for the Trustees of the British Museum to take this suggestion forward, if they felt it to be an appropriate one. The Government are not persuaded of the merits of it.