§ 37. Major CHURCHasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he will exercise his powers under the Ancient Monuments Act of 1882, 1900 and 1910, as well as under the Consolidation and Amendment Act of 1913, so as to schedule Hadrian's Wall in order to ensure its preservation?
§ Mr. JOWETTUnless in cases of immediate urgency, my Department awaits recommendations from the Ancient Monuments Boards before scheduling monuments. I am not aware that there is any need to depart from this practice in the case of any portions of the Roman Wall. I may say, however, that the Ancient Monuments Board for England recently recommended for scheduling a few of the sections of the wall which are still preserved, and they will no doubt deal with other sections in 2910 due course. I should, perhaps, add that the power of scheduling is confined to that given by the Act of 1913. The Act of 1913 repeals the earlier Acts. Scheduling only imposes on the owner an obligation to give this Department notice before altering, adding to, or removing the scheduled monument. It gives no power to require the owner to keep it in repair.
§ Mr. J. JONESIs the House of Lords going to be referred to this committee on ancient monuments?
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEWhere is the money to come from if these powers are to be extended?
§ Mr. JOWETTThere is no authority to purchase.
§ Sir F. WISEFor the excavations.
§ Mr. JOWETTParliament will supply it.
§ 38. Major CHURCHasked the First Commissioner of Works whether he is aware that there are in England, Scotland and Wales a number of ancient monuments and historic buildings of large size and major importance which are falling rapidly into decay through neglect on the part of the owners; can he state whether the dangerous and decayed condition of such buildings is reported by officers of his Department; and are representations made to the owners that repairs should be carried out?
§ Mr. JOWETTMy Department, through its inspectors and their local correspondents, does what it can to keep a watch upon the condition of ancient monuments and historic buildings scheduled under the Act of 1913, and when cases of neglect are reported representations are made to owners as to the need for carrying out repairs.
§ Major CHURCHIs any portion of the large sums which are sometimes received by the owners of ancient monuments ever allocated for the repairs of those buildings or their preservation?
§ Mr. JOWETTNot by us. It is in the owner's own discretion.
§ Mr. B. TURNERWill the right hon. Gentleman take a look at Holyrood and see what he can do to preserve it?
§ Lieut.-Colonel JAMESIs it not a fact that in any number of cases the owners spend far more than they receive on the maintenance of those ancient buildings?
§ Mr. JOWETTI am quite sure that it is.