§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will encourage the use of designated police liaison officers to complement the provisions for the protection of sites of wrecks under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. [60867]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthAs a result of recent allegations of offences under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, my Department will be writing to all relevant local constabularies clarifying the legal position in relation to the 1973 Act, and giving details of existing designated sites within their area of responsibility.
We welcome the proposal for local constabularies to set up designated police liaison officers, and are examining how this can best be taken forward.
§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what changes he is planning to the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973. [60866]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthThere are no plans to amend the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973 before the proposed transfer of responsibility for underwater archaeology to English Heritage announced in my Department's Departmental Spending Review. English Heritage may carry out a review of the operation of the 1973 Act after the transfer of responsibility has been carried out.