§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Minister for the Arts (1) what discussions he has had with the Governments of Australia and New Zealand about the future of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads in British museums;
(2) what information he has on the (a) number and (b) location of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads and other human relics in British museums.
§ Mr. Luce[holding answer 5 February 1990]I have received no representations from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand about the future of mummified aboriginal and Maori heads in British museums. I understand that of the national museums and galleries for which I am responsible, the British Museum's museum of mankind has seven Maori heads in its Oceanic collection, and the natural history museum has one mummified Maori head and one mummified aboriginal head in its keeping.