Science and heritage - a follow-up, report, 5th report of session 2010-12 (Paperback)

This report cites research that heritage tourism contributes GBP7.4 billion a year to the UK economy and supports 195, 000 full time equivalent jobs. The Committee argues that sustaining that contribution requires the UK to have the heritage science capacity to maintain the UK's movable and immovable heritage such as museum, library, archive and gallery collections and historic buildings. The recommendations made in the Committee's first report on heritage science (HLP 256, session 2005-06 (ISBN 9780104009550)) received a positive response: the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) have developed a joint Science and Heritage Programme, and the heritage science community have published a National Heritage Science Strategy and appointed a National Heritage Science Forum which have done much to build capacity and develop networks within the heritage science community. The Committee, however, heard concerns that senior heritage scientist posts are being lost and that the sustainability of UK heritage science capacity is at risk. It believes that the AHRC and National Heritage Science Forum should together measure capacity and address any issues arising. Whilst acknowledging the role of the heritage science community and improvements in this area since 2006, the Committee remains concerned and calls on DCMS to take action to ensure that heritage science is given the priority it deserves. Recommendations include: that DCMS should appoint a Chief Scientific Adviser without further delay and set departmental objectives for heritage science with DCMS arm's length bodies also setting out how they will help achieve these objectives