RETURN OF PARTHENON SCULPTURES TO ATHENS

Early day motion 425A1, tabled 15 January 2004 by Tim Loughton (Conservative). Signed by 15 members.

Line 3, delete from 'currently' to end and insert 'held in Athens and have not been properly displayed to the public there for many years; notes that there are no plans to display these marbles or the Elgin Marbles in the proper context of other artistic and architectural masterpieces illustrating the development of culture in the Mediterranean and Near East before and after the Classical period; further notes that, unlike the British Museum, visitors to the marbles in Athens will be charged for entry; asserts that the Elgin Marbles are of international cultural value and this consideration should be paramount over political gestures and short term deals; and regrets that the slick and well-funded campaign by 'Marbles Reunited' has sought to denude the British Museum of one of its central attractions for 200 years on the grounds of promoting London's Olympic bid and taking advantage of current funding shortfalls of the Museum despite its own research showing that far fewer people visit the Parthenon than the British Museum where the Marbles are the second most visited exhibit.

Signatures by party: Conservative 13, Labour 2.