HC Deb 07 May 2003 vol 404 cc726-8W
Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what measures she is taking to ensure the identification and return of antiquities and cultural artefacts looted from Iraq. [110606]

Tessa Jowell

The current UN sanction requires State Parties to the UN to impose import controls on objects from Iraq, including antiquities. We welcome UNESCO's announcement that they will be proposing to the UN a continuing selective embargo on the movement of Iraqi cultural property so that there should be no diminution of control over the import of Iraqi cultural property. This is clearly an option, and we are very supportive of this aim.

Last year the UK acceded to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Irrespective of whether UN sanctions are lifted, since these objects have been stolen from Iraqi museums, the UK now has an obligation to prevent their import and assist the legitimate authorities in Iraq to secure their return.

I have written to the British Art Market Federation and to the Antiquities Dealers Association to ask for their assistance in locating and identifying looted material should it surface on the legitimate market in the UK (despite the existence of a ban on the import of such material).

The legitimate art market will be helped by the announcement on 29 April that UNESCO intend to establish a database of items believed to have been stolen. We will work closely with UNESCO to ensure that this database is as comprehensive as possible. We also welcome and support the swift response of the UK and international heritage sector to circulate the identity of antiquities looted from Iraqi museums, including the posting on its website by the Art Newspaper of details of more than 300 of the most prominent objects from the collection of the Baghdad Museum, and the plans announced on 29 April by the International Council of Museums (ICOM) to issue on the world wide web a fully illustrated Red List of the hundred most important antiquities looted from the Baghdad Museum.

I have also written to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to ask him to alert Customs officers at all ports of entry in locating and identifying any Iraqi antiquities, with a view to prosecuting those who attempt to breach the import controls.

Nick Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many illegally obtained objects of Iraqi cultural heritage, broken down by type, have been found entering the United Kingdom since 9 April. [110845]

John Healey

I have been asked to reply.

From 9 April 2003 to date Customs have not detected any illegally obtained objects of Iraqi cultural heritage entering the UK.

Nick Harvey

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (1) what steps she has taken to secure a ban in the international trade in objects of Iraqi cultural heritage; [110847]

(2) what measures are in place to deal with the illicit trade of objects of Iraqi cultural heritage; [110848]

(3) what steps she is taking to encourage the return of cultural objects stolen or illicitly exported from Iraq. [110846]

Tessa Jowell

The current UN sanction requires state parties to the UN to impose import controls on objects from Iraq, including antiquities. The current ban on the import of antiquities from Iraq means that such antiquities can be seized if there is an attempt to import them illegally. However, there is a concern that when UN sanctions are lifted there should be no diminution of control over the import of Iraqi cultural property. UNESCO have announced that they will be proposing to the UN a continuing selective embargo on the movement of Iraqi cultural property. This is clearly an option, and we are very supportive of this aim.

Last year the UK acceded to the 1970 UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. Irrespective of whether UN sanctions are lifted, since these objects have been stolen from Iraqi museums, the UK now has an obligation to prevent their import and assist the legitimate authorities in Iraq to secure their return.

We fully support the Private Member's Bill, which will make it illegal in this country to trade dishonestly in cultural objects unlawfully removed from another country. The Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Bill has both cross-party and cross-sectoral support among the UK art trade and heritage community. The Bill is due to go into Committee on 14 May and we shall be discussing with parliamentary business managers how best to progress the Bill through its remaining stages as fast as possible.

I have written to my hon. Friend the Member for Wentworth (John Healey), Economic Secretary to the Treasury, to ask him to alert customs officers at all ports of entry in locating and identifying any Iraqi antiquities, with a view to prosecuting those who attempt to breach the import controls.

I have also written to the British Art Market Federation and to the Antiquities Dealers Association to ask for their assistance in locating and identifying looted material should it surface on the legitimate market in the UK (despite the existence of a ban on the import of such material).

The legitimate art market will be helped by the announcement on 29 April that UNESCO intend to establish a database of items believed to have been stolen. We will work closely with UNESCO to ensure that this database is as comprehensive as possible.

Mr. Peter Ainsworth

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she received, from whom and when, between 1 January and 20 April, regarding the threat of looting of antiquities in Iraq; what her response was; and if she will make a statement. [110614]

Tessa Jowell

[holding answer 1 May 2003]I have received and responded to letters from the United Kingdom Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works on 8 April and the Society of Antiquaries of London on 13 April concerning the protection of Iraq's cultural heritage. I have also received copies of letters from ICOMOS sent on 13 March addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and Ministers in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

The Coalition consulted widely before the commencement of the military campaign on the risks to ancient historical and archaeological sites. We have stressed our commitment to protecting such sites. We want to protect resources for all Iraqis and will take what measures are necessary to do this.