§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Minister for the Arts what requests the British museum has received from (a) Ghana and (b) Papua New Guinea for the return of tribal art treasures stored in Shoreditch; what reply was sent; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LuceThe British museum received requests from Ghana in 1974 and 1975 about the return of material in its collections; it was explained at the time that the museum was prevented by Act of Parliament from disposing of its holdings.
The museum has received no request from Papua New Guinea for the return of any material.
Ethnographic material not on general display in the British museum is available for inspection and study.