Museums in England and Wales to gain powers to dispose of objects on moral grounds

Visitors stand in front of the Parthenon marbles at the British Museum in London. Photograph: Waltraud Grubitzsch/DPA-Zentralbild

Museums and galleries in England and Wales will be given unprecedented powers to dispose of objects in their collections if there is a compelling moral obligation to do so, under a new law.

Alexander Herman, an expert in art law, said the museum sector did not appear to have realised that a provision of the Charities Act 2022, expected to come into force this autumn, could have “a significant impact for years to come” on restitution cases.