Parthenon Sculptures

Lord Ricketts Excerpts

Tuesday 3rd November 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I am slightly surprised that the noble Earl is taking this line of questioning. The Government are empowering mayoral strategic authorities and strategic authorities to introduce a potential visitor levy on short-term overnight accommodation in their regions in order to drive economic growth, including full support for the visitor economy. Personally—I know this will be the case for many noble Lords across your Lordships’ House—I think very little of an additional fee when I pay for hotel accommodation overseas routinely. We are clear that local leaders will be setting out plans for how the revenues will be invested by early 2028. There will be plenty of time to discuss how the levy would work and the potential impact. We are clear that this is a positive step to enable mayors to drive their local economies.

[Lord Ricketts (CB)]

My Lords, referring back to a previous answer by the Minister, can she reassure the House—and any international partners who may be listening—that the Government’s intention is to permanently return the Bayeux Tapestry after its sensational run here? I understand that it has had more than 200,000 visitors.

[Baroness Twycross (Lab)]

I assure the noble Lord, not least because of his role in ensuring that we were able to bring the Bayeaux Tapestry to the UK for the first time in more than 900 years, that there is no intention to keep the Bayeux Tapestry in this country. It would be over my dead body.