I have today launched a public consultation on proposals to extend the scope of the Railway Heritage Committee. The public consultation, which will run until 5 September 2008, identifies three options to enable the Committee to extend its scope to railway related bodies that were overlooked or not in existence at the time of the original legislation. These options are:

for legislation to remain the same;

for railway related bodies to voluntarily agree to allow the Committee to designate their records and artefacts; or

to add further organisations to the original list of bodies covered by the 1996 Railway Heritage Act.

From previous discussions between the Committee and railway bodies, and a response to an informal questionnaire in March, there is a need for such bodies to be brought into the scope of the Committee to enable it to fully meet its statutory obligations.

The consultation also seeks to update its membership to enable it to appoint an archivist. Current legislation restricts the Department’s ability to attract suitable candidates and appoint members who do not meet the existing requirements of the Public Records Act 1958.

Copies of the consultation have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.