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Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages

The Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) (Amendment) Bill 2017–19 is a private member’s bill, which was introduced in the House of Commons by Theresa Villiers (Conservative MP for Chipping Barnet). The bill would remove the sunset clause contained in the Holocaust (Return of Cultural Objects) Act 2009 which would have seen the Act cease to have effect from 11 November 2019. The Act confers powers on specified national museums and galleries to return certain cultural objects on grounds relating to events during the Nazi era. The Government supports the extension of the Act’s provisions and wants the legislation to apply indefinitely. It prepared the bill’s explanatory notes with the consent of Theresa Villiers.

The bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 13 March 2018 and completed its Commons stages on 15 March 2019. No amendments were tabled to the bill during its passage. The bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 18 March 2019, sponsored by Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury (Conservative), and is scheduled for second reading on 9 May 2019.