Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill: Commons stages

Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill

Summary of the Bill

This Government Bill was introduced to the House of Commons on 13 September 2016. This is known as the First Reading and there was no debate on the Bill at this stage.

The Bill relates to the UK's ratification and implementation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and is one of the series of international treaties on the law of war created in the aftermath of the Second World War.

The Convention reflects a view that all cultural property is part of ‘the cultural heritage of all mankind’, and so must be protected.

The Convention and its two Protocols provide a system for protecting important cultural property in peacetime and during armed conflict (though with a waiver for ‘imperative military necessity’), and a requirement to establish domestic criminal jurisdiction over cultural property offences.

Keep up to date with all the proceedings and documentation, including amendment papers, on the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill and find out how a Bill becomes an Act of Parliament.

• Follow Bills before Parliament: Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill
• About Parliament: Passage of a Bill

House of Commons Library analysis

The House of Commons Library produces briefing papers to inform MPs and their staff of key issues. The papers contain factual information and a range of opinions on each subject, and aim to be politically impartial.

The Library published a briefing paper for Second Reading.

• Read Library briefing paper: Commons Library Analysis of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill [HL] (Bill 66 of 2016-17)

Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill: Commons stages

Commons remaining stages (Report stage and Third Reading)

Both the Report stage and Third Reading of the Bill took place on Monday 20 February.

The Bill passed its Third Reading without amendment.

• Watch Parliament TV: Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill: Report stage and Third Reading
• Read Commons Hansard: Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill: Report stage and Third Reading
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Cultural heritage

Committee stage

The Public Bill Committee considered the Bill on 15 November 2016. The Public Bill Committee then reported the Bill to the House with amendments.
Find out more about the Public Bill Committee:

• Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill Public Bill Committee membership, proceedings and written evidence

Second Reading

Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Karen Bradley, opened the debate.

Shadow Minister for Arts and Heritage, Kevin Brennan, responded on behalf of the Opposition.

The Bill passed Second Reading without a division.

• Watch Parliament TV: Second Reading of the Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill
• Read Commons Hansard: Cultural Property (Armed Conflicts) Bill
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Cultural heritage
• Read current Parliamentary material in Topics: Armed forces

Related information

Watching proceedings from the public gallery

UK residents and overseas visitors can watch proceedings in the House of Commons by visiting the public gallery.

• How to attend a debate in the Chamber or in Westminster Hall

Follow @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.

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