CBA Director writes to Jack Straw regarding the Coroners and Justice Bill

The letter welcomes the announcement from the Ministry of Justice that the Coroners and Justice Bill will be in the Government’s legislative programme.

Jack Straw MP is the Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor. The Bill was introduced in the House of Commons today. The CBA’s interest in the Bill relates to the provisions to reform the Treasure Act 1996 which were in the draft Bill when it was published in 2006, especially (a) the proposal to introduce a single coroner to deal with Treasure cases from the whole of England and Wales and (b) the proposal to amend the Treasure Act 1996 to widen the obligation to report finds of Treasure to anyone who comes into possession of them.

These are both significant proposals which will have an important impact in relation to Treasure finds. The Treasure Act has been a very successful piece of legislation, but experience has shown that the administration would be improved by the appointment of a single Coroner to handle all Treasure cases and a tightening of the legislation is needed to include those in possession of Treasure finds. Neither of these elements should have significant revenue implications, but will improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the legislation.

As the Ministry’s briefing note on the Bill (issued on 18 December) made no mention of the proposals to amend the Treasure Act, the CBA requested that that these provisions will be included in the Bill when it is published.

It was pointed out that the CBA has over 600 institutional members, including national, regional and local bodies, local government, professional, academic, museum and voluntary organisations, and therefore represents a broad and diverse section of the heritage community.