SECURITY OF NATIONAL ART COLLECTIONS

Early day motion 1154, tabled 30 November 2005 by Lord Foster of Bath (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 31 members.

That this House regrets the decision of the Swiss canton of Valais to seize paintings belonging to the Pushkin Museum of Moscow; affirms that national cultural goods are public property and should not be confiscated as collateral against government debts; notes that Russian museums are now considering a moratorium on overseas loans; is concerned that this may jeopardise future exhibitions in the UK including the Road to Byzantium exhibition at Somerset House and the Kandinsky exhibition at the Tate Modern; and calls on the Government to adopt anti-seizure legislation to guarantee the security of cultural goods on loan from other countries.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 14, Labour 11, Conservative 3, DUP 3.