HL Deb 06 March 1991 vol 526 c73WA
Lord Norrie

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the payment of commission to Receivers of Wrecks in respect of historic material recovered from wrecks.

Baroness Blatch

We are pleased to be able to announce that further to the measures announced in the Government's response to theHeritage at Sea report on 20th December, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Transport has agreed that Receivers of Wreck will no longer charge a commission of 7.5 per cent. of the value of any property delivered to them. It has also been decided that museums purchasing coins over 100 years old from receivers will not be required to pay that proportion of the price which has until now been retained by the Crown. Both these changes will be introduced for items recovered from wreck sites on or after 1st April next.