RETURN OF THE PARTHENON SCULPTURES

That this House is aware that it took decisions 200 years ago this year which are now over time for review; notes that many of the Parthenon sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1812 during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, were then purchased from him by the Government following a decision in Parliament in 1816, and remain on display in the British Museum, to which they were transferred by Act of Parliament also in 1816; further notes that, when presented with the facts, the UK public favours the reunification of the Parthenon sculptures in Athens with those now displayed in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum in the shadow of the Parthenon; and calls on the Government, working with the Trustees of the British Museum, to engage in a gracious act to reunite these Parthenon sculptures with those in Athens and with the people of Greece on the 200th anniversary of the purchase from Lord Elgin.