Working Group on Human Remains
Over several years, we consulted museum professionals and the public on our human remains policy and code of practice.
Human Remains Code of Practice drafting group
The DCMS convened a group to produce a code of practice for the keeping of human remains in museums and, where appropriate, other human remains collections in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, in accordance with the Human Tissue Act 2004.
Ministers also agreed that the guidance would be issued to accompany Section 47 of the Human Tissue Act 2004 coming into force. Guidance for the Care of Human Remains in Museums was formally published on 3 October 2005. If you wish to receive a hard copy, please send an email to enquiries@culture.gov.uk
The drafting group was chaired by Hedley Swain from the Museum of London and the members of the group were:
- Justin Morris - British Museum
- Sebastian Payne - English Heritage
- Finbar Whooley - Horniman Museum
- Simon Mays - English Heritage
- Robert Foley - Cambridge University
- Maurice Davies - Museums Association
- John Jackson - Natural History Museum
- Sally MacDonald - University College London
- Tara Camm - Wellcome Trust
- Mark Redknap – National Museums and Galleries Wales
- Elizabeth Walker - National Museums and Galleries Wales
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Response to the "Care of historic human remains" consultation
The 2004 consultation, "Care of historic human remains", showed widespread support within the museum sector for a code of practice.
We summarised that report, and invited comments on 19 Questions (PDF 37kb). Nearly 50 responses were received, from a range of groups including UK national and non-national museums, archaeological groups as well as cultural and religious groups.
We have created a Summary Paper - Response to Human Remains consultation (PDF 97kb), which draws together the comments of these groups on the key areas set out in the consultation document.
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Working Group on Human Remains
The Working Group on Human Remains was established in May 2001 in response to recommendations from the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport in its Report of July 2000 on Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade.
The group was Chaired by Professor Norman Palmer and the members of the Group were:
- Mr Tristram Besterman
- Sir Neil Chalmers
- Mr Maurice Davies
- Ms Hetty Gleave
- Dr Sally MacDonald
- Dr John Mack
- Professor Sir Peter Morris
- Dr Patrick O'Keefe (retired June 2002)
- Dr Laura Peers
- Professor Dame Marilyn Strathern
Its role was to examine the current legal status of human remains within the collections of publicly funded Museums and Galleries in England and Wales.
Working Group on Human Remains submissions
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