§ Mr. PondTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements he is making to ensure that the Government are able to draw on expert advice in considering options for countering the illicit trade in antiquities. [123930]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI am convening a panel of experts, drawn from the legal, archaeological and museum worlds, and from the art and antiques trade, whose terms of reference will be
To consider the nature and extent of the illicit international trade in art and antiquities, and the extent to which the UK is involved in this;To consider how most effectively, through both non-legislative and legislative means, the UK can play its part in preventing and prohibiting the illicit trade, and to advise the Government accordingly.To report to the Minister for the Arts by 30 November 2000.I am most grateful to the following experts who have agreed to be members of the advisory panel:
Professor Norman Palmer: Professor of Commercial Law, University College, London (chairman).Dr. Peter Addyman: Chairman of the Standing Conference on Portable Antiquities; Director of the York Archaeological Trust.Dr. Robert Anderson; Director of the British Museum.Anthony Browne: Chairman of the British Art Market Federation.James Ede: Chairman designate of the Antiquities Dealers' Association; Director of Charles Ede Ltd., antiquities dealers.Joanna van der Lande: former Chair of the Antiquities Dealers' Association; associate director of Bonhams Ltd., and head of the antiquities department.562WProfessor Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn: Director of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge.Anna Somers Cocks: Editor, The Art Newspaper.The panel will be supported by a working group of officials drawn from all those departments which share responsibility for measures to combat illicit trade.