diff --git a/backup/converter/moodle1/stepslib.php b/backup/converter/moodle1/stepslib.php
index 084d80db516..5f929a2779d 100644
--- a/backup/converter/moodle1/stepslib.php
+++ b/backup/converter/moodle1/stepslib.php
@@ -74,6 +74,18 @@ abstract class moodle1_structure_step extends convert_structure_step {
         return array();
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Return new fields and their values
+     *
+     * The key is the new field name and the value
+     * is the value to write to the XML file.
+     *
+     * @return array
+     */
+    public function get_new() {
+        return array();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Last chance to modify the datum before
      * it is written to the XML file.
@@ -115,6 +127,9 @@ abstract class moodle1_structure_step extends convert_structure_step {
             }
             $this->xmlwriter->full_tag($name, $this->mutate_datum($name, $datum));
         }
+        foreach ($this->get_new() as $name => $datum) {
+            $this->xmlwriter->full_tag($name, $datum);
+        }
     }
 }