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Written question asked by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Thursday, 25 June 2026, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 July 2026. It was answered by Baroness Twycross (Labour) on Thursday, 9 July 2026 on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Auctions: Human Remains

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government, in light of the sale of a mummified human head and a dangerous tribal skull from Borneo by On the Square Emporium Ltd in Belfast, whether they have any plans to restrict the sale of human remains by auction houses.

Answer

The Government is aware of the distress caused by the sale of human remains, via auction or any other means, and finds this activity abhorrent.

Under the current framework it is for auction houses to decide whether to prohibit sales of human remains, taking into account their own professional standards. We expect those involved to strongly consider the ethical implications of this activity. All human remains should be treated with respect and dignity.

We recognise that further work is needed to understand these specific issues and their scope. We remain committed to exploring ways to protect the safety and dignity of the deceased, including the treatment of human remains over 100 years old.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL1317
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Auctions Human remains
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk