The Portable Antiquities Scheme and the Treasure Act: Protecting the Archaeology of England and Wales? Reply to Austin, Barford, Moshenska, Renfrew and Worrell

Abstract

The forum piece on PAS and the Treasure Act is timely. In November 2010 Lord Allan of Hallam asked a question about the future of the PAS during a debate in the House of Lords (Hansard, 11 November 2010). Baroness Rawlings commented, ‘I am pleased to confirm that the scheme will continue. Discussions are taking place about the best way for it to be managed and funded.’ Less than two weeks later, it was announced that PAS would face a 15 per cent reduction as part of the coalition government’s comprehensive spending review; in addition, PAS will be funded directly by the British Museum. As anticipated in the forum piece, the (Westminster) government funding will no longer include Wales, although it is hoped that the devolved Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) will fund the scheme; the detail has yet to be released.