PLANNED AUCTION OF THE PAPERS OF SIR ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE

Early day motion 1199, tabled 14 May 2004 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 24 members.

That this House objects to the planned sale and break-up of the papers of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by private auction at Christie's on 19th May; calls on the Minister of State for the Arts to intervene in this case and delay the sale until she can report back to the House regarding the dispute that all of these papers should have been lodged with the British Library rather than be auctioned; and in the disappointing event that the sale does go ahead, urges that public resources, such as Lottery funding, be used to save this extraordinary and invaluable collection for the public and academic scholarship.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Plaid Cymru 2, Scottish National Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Liberal Democrat 1, UUP 1.