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10 July 2006
Should UK National Museums Be Able To Return Works Of Art Spoliated By The Nazis?
Culture Minister David Lammy today launched a consultation on whether the current statutory and other legal restrictions which prevent national museums from de-accessioning works of art in their collections, should be lifted to allow restitution of items which were lost during the Nazi era.
The consultation invites views on how far a power to make restitution of objects lost during the Nazi era should extend, who should be responsible for taking decisions on restitution, and what continuing role the Spoliation Advisory Panel should have.
David Lammy said:
"The Government remains committed to doing all it can to correct some of the terrible wrongs that were committed during the Nazi era. The Spoliation Advisory Panel has helped bring many of these injustices to light and has proposed fair and equitable solutions throughout.
"We would now like to go one step further by enabling the return of items to the heirs of the original owners where this seems appropriate. I welcome the consultation paper and look forward to having a wide-ranging debate. It is not possible to say when legislation may be introduced on this issue; nonetheless, we are keen to begin the public debate."
The powers discussed in the paper relate only to the return of items lost as a result of the actions of the Nazis or their allies. It does not propose to remove the restrictions on museums' powers to dispose of objects in their collection in any other case.
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Only a small number of claims have been received for items in public collections in the UK, and in only two of these has the Spoliation Advisory Panel recommended the return of the object in question
The consultation will run for four months, from 10 July to 10 November 2006.
Responses should be sent to:
Mark Caldon
Cultural Property Unit
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
2-4 Cockspur Street
London
SW1Y 5DH
Notes to Editors
- The Spoliation Advisory Panel was established in 2000 to consider claims from anyone who had lost possession of a cultural object during the years 1933 to 1945. The Panel has so far advised on five cases. In two of these it has recommended restitution but legal restrictions have prevented the return of the object. In 2005, the Panel recommended that the law should be changed to permit the restitution of objects falling within its terms of reference.
- For more information about the Spoliation Advisory Panel and its work go to http://www.culture.gov.uk/cultural_property/spoliation_ad_panel.htm
Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6272\6276
Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
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