Wedgwood collection 'at risk'

A court is to decide on the future of the Wedgwood Museum collection.

The Wedgwood Museum Trust went into administration in April and the museum could be liable for a GBP 134 million pension fund shortfall.

It will soon be decided whether or not the collection of ceramics will be divided up and sold to pay for the deficit.

If sold, this could set a precedent for other museums in danger of losing their collection if they get into financial trouble.

Tristram Hunt, the local MP for Stoke-on-Trent Central, where the museum is based, told the Museums Association that if the court rules in favour of the pension trustees, new legislation could be proposed to protect collections in the future.

Adrian Babbidge, director of heritage consultancy Egeria, told the association: 'It is a tenet of museum understanding that collections are protected if an organisation finds itself in an insolvent position.

'If the court rules that all assets are available to meet debts then this sets a precedent that could apply to any museum that goes bust.'