§ Mr. FauldsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Government intend to sign the international convention for the restitution of works of art which have been stolen or removed from their country of origin; and if he has established whether an earlier signature to this convention would have guaranteed the return of the Icklingham finds which were illegally taken to America.
§ Mr. LuceI have been asked to reply.
Signature of the UNESCO convention would not have guaranteed the return of the alleged Icklingham finds. The Government are not convinced that the convention is the most suitable instrument for dealing with such issues.