§ Baroness Gould of Potternewtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will announce the membership and terms of reference of the Working Group on Human Remains [HL2107]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThe main tasks of the Working Group on Human Remains will be to examine the current legal status of human remains within the publicly funded Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom, to consider the desirability of a statement of principles (and supporting guidance) relating to the care and safekeeping of human remains and to the handling of requests for return, and to prepare a report for the Government.
The membership of the group will be: Chairman, Professor Norman Palmer, Professor of Commercial Law, University College, London; Mr Tristram Besterman, Director, Manchester University Museum, Convener, Museums Association Ethics Committee; Dr Neil Chalmers, Director, The Natural History Museum; Dr Maurice Davies, Deputy Director, Museums Association; Professor Caroline Forder, Professor of European Family Law, University of Maastricht; Mrs Hetty Gleave, Solicitor, Hunters, Chair ArtResolve; Dr Sally MacDonald, Manager, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, University College London; Dr John Mack, Senior Keeper, British Museum; Professor Sir Peter Morris, Nuffield Professor of Surgery at the University of Oxford and President-elect of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; Dr Laura Peers, Lecturer in Ethnology and Curator of Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford; and Professor Marilyn Strathern, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Cambridge.
240WAThe terms of reference for the group are set out below. The Government intend that the group should start work as soon as possible.
Terms of Reference for Working Group on the Potential Return of Human Remains
To examine the current legal status of human remains within the collections of publicly funded Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom; To examine the powers of museums and galleries governed by statute to deaccession, or otherwise release from their possession, human remains within their collections and to consider the desirability and possible form of legislative change in this area; To consider the circumstances in which material other than, but associated with, human remains might properly be included within any proposed legislative change in respect of human remains; To take advice from interested parties as necessary; Consider the desirability of a statement of principles (and supporting guidance) relating to the care and safe keeping of human remains and to the handling of requests for return. If the panel considers it appropriate, to draw up the terms of such a statement and guidance; To prepare a report for the Minister for the Arts and make recommendations as to proposals which might form the basis for a consultation document (to be used for consultation under the Regulatory Reform Bill).