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Repatriation of Historical Objects

As I have learned after being in this House for five years, the word of Plaid Cymru can often be taken as gospel. This time, a case is being made for the gospel. My point is that we are willing to work hard to bring some, if not all, these historical artefacts back to their place of origin—the place where they were found. We are not an impediment to change. Perhaps in some ways we need a knight in shining ivory to help us, the underdogs, against the impediments of the British Museum. As I am sure the Minister knows, when the Staffordshire hoard was on display in Birmingham and Stoke-on-Trent, over 80,000 people queued for upwards of three hours to view it in those two different places. Put simply, the economic boon that such historical objects could generate is vast. As my hon. Friend the Member for Carmarthen, East and Dinefwr (Adam Price) said, we are asking for the opportunity to allow people to experience the chessmen in the place that they came from.