Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of whether the current A-level examinations in archaeology and history of art have educational and social value; and what steps, if any, they will take to discourage the relevant examination board from implementing proposals to omit them from the examination curriculum.
Answered by Lord Nash
It is disappointing that AQA will stop developing qualifications in History of Art and Archaeology, in view of the value of having a broad range of high-quality choices available to A level students.
The Government published content for both subjects in January 2016. It is for individual exam boards to decide which qualifications to offer, and the option for AQA or another exam board to develop specifications in future will remain open. We are in discussion with the exam boards on this issue.
Neither subject is a pre-requisite for degree level study, and both are taken by a relatively small number of students. In 2015/16, there were 340 entries to A level Archaeology, and 776 entries to A level History of Art.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to publish the review of local government archaeology services by John Howell MP and Lord Redesdale, which was commissioned in October 2013 by the Minister for Culture, Communication and Creative Industries, Mr Ed Vaizey MP; and when they plan to announce their response.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The review of local government archaeology services usefully highlighted the imperative of ensuring that local planning authorities have the historic environment information and expertise they need to help deliver sustainable development. Historic England is currently working with the Historic Environment Forum to develop sector-led ideas for new approaches to managing change in the historic environment that make the best use of local government resources and reduce burdens.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they expect to complete and publish the recommendations of their review of the Treasure Act 1996.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
My Department will be conducting a public consultation later this year which will contain a number of proposals relating to the definition of Treasure and other measures set out in the Treasure Code of Practice. The Government's response to the consultation will be published thereafter.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government why they have not yet ratified the 1954 Hague Convention on the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict; and when they plan to do so.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Shadow Minister (Treasury)
The Government has made a commitment to bring forward legislation to ratify the Hague Convention and accede its two protocols at the first opportunity. Previous Governments were unable to find the necessary parliamentary time to do this earlier.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Lord Gardiner of Kimble on 12 May (HL Deb, col 1650), when they expect there to be parliamentary time to introduce legislation to ratify the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict; and what assessment they have made of the damage to cultural property in the recent and continuing armed conflict in Syria and northern Iraq.
Answered by Lord Wallace of Saltaire - Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
The legislative priorities for this session were set out in the Queen’s speech in June. The Government remains committed to protecting cultural heritage and we will seek to legislate on the 1954 Hague Convention and the subsequent protocols when parliamentary time allows. The 1954 convention already informs the Armed Forces’ law of armed conflict doctrine and training policy, particularly with regard to respect for cultural property, precautions in attack and recognition of the protective emblem.
The Government is deeply concerned by reports of damage to cultural property in Syria and Northern Iraq, including recent attacks by Islamic State of Iraq and Levant against Mosques, Churches and other holy places. The reported destruction of the Tomb of Yonus (Jonah) in Mosul on 24 July by ISIL is further evidence of the groups barbarism and disregard for International Humanitarian Law. We are also concerned that Syria’s cultural heritage is being plundered for private profit. That is why in December 2013 the UK and other EU nations amended the EU’s sanctions regime to make clear that involvement in trade relating to artefacts illegally removed from Syria is prohibited. This will help safeguard Syria’s cultural heritage for the future and we will continue to do all we can to bring an end to the conflict and restore stability in the region.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 28 November 2012 (HL Deb, col GC 124) and the Written Answer by Lord Astor of Hever on 20 May 2013 (WA 26), when they expect to announce a decision on the future of HMS Victory (1744); and when they expect to publish the key management principles formulated by the Advisory Group for HMS Victory.
Answered by Lord Astor of Hever
Ministers and Officials from the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), drawing on advice from the independent Advisory Group, continue to engage with the Maritime Heritage Foundation over the future management of the wreck site of HMS VICTORY (1744). The Project Plan must be consistent with the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage and its associated Annex.
Considerable progress has been made over the last two years but no date has been set for an announcement.
The DCMS and the MOD have published guidance, including Key Management Principles, on the Protection and Management of Historic Military Wrecks outside UK Territorial Waters, this can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protection-and-management-of-historic-military-wrecks-outside-uk-territorial-waters
More information specific to HMS VICTORY (1744) will be published once the way ahead is determined.
Asked by: Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recommendation by the British Academy and the Honor Frost Foundation to the Foreign Secretary on 20 March that the United Kingdom should ratify the 2001 UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.
Answered by Baroness Jolly
I have noted the recommendations of the British Academy and the Honor Frost Foundation. DCMS will begin reviewing the conclusions of the recent Impact Report on the UNESCO Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage later this year.