Minutes of Policy Discussion Feb 2010

MEETING OF THE REVIEWING COMMITTEE ON THE EXPORT OF WORKS OF ART AND OBJECTS OF CULTURAL INTEREST (RCEWA)

HELD ON WEDNESDAY 3 FEBRUARY 2010

AT THE OFFICES OF DCMS, 2-4 COCKSPUR STREET, LONDON

MINUTES OF THE POLICY DISCUSSION

Present:Lord Inglewood, Chairman

Simon Swynfen Jervis

Catherine Johns

Pamela Robertson

Christopher Wright

Charlotte Patricio, Legal Adviser to RCEWA

Gerry McQuillan, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)

Anastasia Tennant (MLA)

Frances Wilson, Secretary

Henry Yallop, Assistant Secretary

Sean Farran (MLA)

Helen Loughlin, Deputy Head of International and Cultural Property Unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (agenda items 1 to 5 only)

*AP denotes action point

1.Apologies

1.1Apologies had been received from Johnny van Haeften, Tim Knox and David Ekserdjian.

2.Minutes of the previous meeting and matters arising

2.1 The minutes of the last meeting,which had taken place on 2December 2009, were accepted as a factually accurate record.

2.2There weretwoaction points arising from the minutes.

*AP1:Andrew Petherick and James Neilson to produce a paper on the Committee’s proposals regarding temporary licences and submit it to DCMS for comment.

This had been carried over from the previous minutes. The Secretariat reported that the paper had been submitted to DCMS and a response was awaited.

*AP2: The Secretariat to convey the Committee’s concerns over misleading exhibition labels to DCMS.

The Secretariat had written to DCMS on this matter and a response was awaited.

2.3There were no other matters arising from the minutes.

3.Update on current cases and recent deferrals

3.1This was noted.

4.Press cuttings

4.1These were noted.

5. Temporary licences

5.1 The Secretariat reported that a draft of the Committee’s paper on proposals for new procedures for temporary licences had been submitted to DCMS for comments. Helen Loughlin said that she and her colleagues had not yet had time to respond formally, but that an initial reading of the paper had revealed that there were some points which would need clarification.Suggestions were made for possible revisions to the wording of the paper, and these were noted. It was agreed that DCMS, in collaboration with the Secretariat, would produce a revised version which the Secretariat would circulate electronically to members.

*AP1: DCMS and the Secretariat to produce a revised version of the proposal paper on temporary licences, which the Secretariat would then circulate.

6.Annual report 2009-10

6.1The Secretariat asked the Committee members to send in ideas for topics to include in the policy section of the 2009-10 annual report. It was agreed that the format of the report should remain the same as for the 2008-09 report.

7.Advisory Council meeting 2010

7.1The Secretariat asked the Committee members for suggestions for people to ask to speakat the next Advisory Council meeting on 2 June 2010. Two people were suggested and the Chairman asked the Secretariat to contact them to ask if they were willing to speak.

*AP2: The Secretariat to contact two possible speakers about the 2010 Advisory Council meeting.

8.Museum export licences

8.1It was agreed that this discussion should be deferred until the next meeting.

9.Expert adviser statistics

9.1 The statistics were not yet available. The Secretariat said that they would be circulated electronically as soon as they were ready.

*AP3: The Secretariat to circulate the expert adviser statistics as soon as they were ready

10Recruitment of new committee member

10.1The Secretariat reported that the applications which had been received for the post had been sifted and a shortlist drawn up. Interviews were scheduled to take place on 24 February.

11.Revisions to UK Export Licensing for Cultural Goods: Procedures and guidance for exporters of works of art and other cultural goods

11.1The Secretariat reported that some revisions had been made to this publication. The revised version had been submitted to DCMS for comment and a response was awaited.

12.Any other business

12.1There was no other business.

13. Date of next meeting and draft agenda

13.1The date of the next meeting, Wednesday 3 March, and draft agenda were noted.