§ 45. Mr. MANDERasked the Prime Minister whether any general arrangements are made for the Office of Works, Ecclesiastical Commissioners, Charity Commissioners, Forestry Commission, Commissioners of Crown Lands, and other Government Departments controlling buildings of historical or artistic value, to consult experts on these matters as they arise; what experts are consulted in each case; and whether he will consider the advisability of arranging for uniformity of practice in this connection?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir John Simon)Generally speaking, the Royal Fine Art Commissioners are the advisers to whom Government Departments and public bodies apply for advice on the treatment of buildings of histories artistic value, but apart from that the Commissioners of Crown Lands have the benefit of the advice of the Crown Lands Advisory Committee appointed in 1933 and the Commissioners of Works consult the Ancient Monuments Board set up under the Ancient Monument Acts. In addition, it would be open to Departments to consult specialist advisers where necessary. The present arrangements are working very well and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to change them.
§ Mr. MANDERCan my right hon. Friend say whether these Departments do actually consult experts where necessary?
§ Sir J. SIMONThat depends circumstances. I think that what I have described as a general scheme shows that they do take that opinion when necessary.