Parthenon Sculptures

That this House notes that the British Museum still holds about half of the Parthenon Sculptures, controversially removed from Athens by Lord Elgin between 1801 and 1812, during the Ottoman occupation of Greece, and that they remain on display in the British Museum to which they were transferred by an Act of Parliament in 1816; considers it unacceptable for these sculptures to be held and displayed in the UK, not least because the sculptures have been damaged whilst in the museum’s possession; further notes that those Parthenon Sculptures remaining in Athens have been well displayed since 2009 in the purpose-built Acropolis Museum close to the Parthenon; is encouraged by reports of stronger and developing partnerships between the British and Acropolis Museums, and reports that British Museum Chair, George Osborne, has indicated his support for this to include the return of the sculptures; also notes that opinion polls have shown a majority also support the return; and therefore calls on the Government to do all that is necessary to cooperate with the trustees of the British Museum, to agree a gracious act to reunite the Parthenon Sculptures with those in Athens and to finally put right this enduring wrong.