§ Mr. Philip Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Trade when he last carried out an overall review of the need for retaining the advisory committee on historic wreck sites; whether he considered alternative privately funded sources of advice; and what conclusions he reached.
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to the reply, 19 November 1981, c.208]: The need for the advisory committee, which was established in 1973 to assist the Secretary of State in carrying out his duties under the Protection of Wrecks Act is reviewed annually. It brings together people with a wide range of expertise and knowledge, connected with both privately and publicly financed bodies, including salvors, archaeologists and museum specalists.
The committee including the chairman, Lord Runciman, consists of 14 members and three associate members representing Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It usually meets three times a year at an average annual cost of £300, representing principally travel and subsistence. Since 1973 a total of £2,375 has been incurred in travel and subsistence as well as additional expenditure of £1,827 on two special meetings and a dinner. The committee is serviced by the marine division of the Department of Trade at an estimated cost of £4,050 in 1981–82. I am satisfied that such a committee represents the best available method of obtaining objective and cost-effective advice on implementation of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, but I have now decided to reduce the size of the committee from 17 to 12, with effect from 1 January 1982.