Culture, Media and Sport Committee
(Maritime Heritage and Historic Ships Sub-Committee)
2nd February 2005
In its fourth report of the 2004-2005 session the Culture, Media and Sport Committee reported on an inquiry conducted by its Maritime Heritage and Historic Ships Sub-Committee which was to:
“ examine the strategy, administration and resources aimed at implementing the Government’s stated policy of preserving the best of maritime heritage”.
The impetus behind the report was the suggestion that …
”the nation’s maritime heritage has not received the same attention – or proportionate resources – from official agencies as buildings, monuments or other structures that make up Britain’s heritage on land”.
The report (HC 296), published on 17th March 2005 is available on the UK Parliament website:
The Sub-Committee took written and oral evidence from a range of representative organisations and individuals, including the National Historic Ships Committee, who articulated many of the issues and concerns confronting the maritime heritage and historic ship community. The final report highlights the achievements of the National Historic Ships Committee in its creation of the National Register of Historic Vessels and its championing of the cause of historic ships and welcomed the Government’s commitment to the setting up of the new National Historic Ships Unit. The announcement of the setting up the new Unit can be found on the DCMS website:
The Culture, Media and Sport Committee, under the chairmanship of Sir Gerald Kaufman MP, has over many years promoted the cause of maritime heritage and historic ships and has been instrumental in encouraging Government to establish a policy, with associated funding, in support of the historic fleet. The establishing of the new National Historic Ships Unit in this SeaBritain 2005 and Trafalgar bicentenary year represents a significant and timely step forward.
John Paton Secretary NHSC