Tag: The Earl of Clancarty

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-07-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to maintain their policy of universal free access to the UK’s national museums and galleries.

Lord Ashton of Hyde

Yes. The Government recognises the benefits that free access to the national museums and galleries brings to the public and to the UK economy. The Spending Review 2015 committed to continued free access to the permanent collections of the national museums and galleries as part of a settlement that maintained funding in cash terms for museum and galleries over the Spending Review period. Museum policy is a devolved matter for their respective administrations although the National Museums of Wales and Scotland are also free of charge, as are the National Armed Forces museums sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-02-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether UK military personnel trained in, or dedicated to, cultural protection have been involved in liaison with Saudi Arabia regarding its intervention in Yemen.

Earl Howe

All UK Service personnel receive mandatory annual training in the Law of Armed Conflict and this includes training in cultural protection. They will also receive further training prior to their deployment.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they will publish the results of their Consultation on implementing the English Baccalaureate, launched in November 2015.

Lord Nash

The results of the consultation on implementing the English Baccalaureate and the Government’s response will be published in due course.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2016-02-11.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what response they have made to the destruction and damage to cultural heritage sites in Yemen by the Saudi Arabian-led intervention, including the destruction of the Old City of Sana’a, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns

We remain concerned about any damage to cultural property in Yemen and are aware of reports of alleged damage by actors in the conflict. Yemen and many members of the Saudi-led coalition are parties to the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict and to the 1972 World Heritage Convention. We have raised our concerns regarding protection of cultural property with both the Government of Yemen and the Saudi Arabian government.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2015-10-19.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what legislation and on what grounds courts in the United Kingdom can make orders for the destruction of (1) original photographs, (2) paintings, and (3) artwork in other media.

Lord Faulks

There is a range of powers that enable the forfeiture of such items.

Section 143 of the Powers of Criminal Courts (Sentencing) Act 2000 provides a general power of forfeiture allowing the courts, on conviction of an offence, to make an order depriving an offender of any rights in lawfully seized articles or articles in the possession or under the control of the offender at arrest or summons which were used, or intended to be used, for the purpose of committing, or facilitating the commission of, an offence or in relation to which the offender was convicted of an offence involving unlawful possession of property.

Section 5 of, and the Schedule to, the Protection of Children Act 1978 allows the forfeiture of any indecent photograph, pseudo-photograph or prohibited image of a child and any property which it is not reasonably practicable to separate from that property following any lawful seizure. The police must give notice of any intended forfeiture of such property and where forfeiture is contested the court must determine the issue.

Section 3 of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 allows the courts power to order the forfeiture of obscene articles kept for publication which have been seized under a warrant issued under that section.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Clancarty on 2015-10-23.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government under what legislation the Metropolitan Police has brought the action against Graham Ovenden to order his collection of art to be forfeited and destroyed.

Lord Faulks

This action was brought under section 5 of the Protection of Children Act 1978. The Government believes in freedom of expression in the arts, but it is imperative that we have robust laws to prevent the making of indecent images of children. Decisions on the destruction of any artwork are made by our independent courts and may be subject to appeal.