§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage which artifacts and from which countries, previously held in Britain, have been returned to their countries of origin in the last 10 years; what requests(a) have been rejected and (b) are currently under consideration; and what is the value of the artifacts concerned.
§ Mr. BrookeThis information is not available centrally. The artifacts in question are the property of independent institutions and private owners and any requests for their return would normally be directed to them. The Government are not necessarily informed of such requests or their outcome. Even when we have been made aware of requests, the information required could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.