LEWIS CHESSMEN

Early day motion 976, tabled 22 March 2005 by Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party). Signed by 11 members.

That this House notes that the Lewis chessmen, which were made by 12th century Norsemen and found in sand in Lewis in 1831, are rarely seen on the island where they were found; further notes the current arrangements whereby ownership lies with museums, including the British Museum, and the chessmen are made available, including to the Western Isles, for temporary loan; and calls for a reversal of this position and the return of the Lewis chessmen to the Western Isles, where they would be housed, with ownership vested in the islanders and the chessmen made available for loan, on their decision, to museums around the country, in the UK and abroad.

Signatures by party: Labour 4, Liberal Democrat 3, DUP 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1, UUP 1.