HL Deb 07 June 1999 vol 601 cc127-8WA
Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Following the scale of the High Court settlement in Northampton v. Allen & Overy, which was reported in The Times of 8 May to have been over £15 million, what action they will now take to discourage the sale in this country of looted or unprovenanced antiquities. [HL2451]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

As the noble Lord is aware, the Government are currently considering whether to sign and implement the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on the international return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects. I would also draw attention to the various codes of practice adopted by members of the UK art trade under which they undertake not to trade in objects of dubious provenance.