HC Deb 10 July 1952 vol 503 cc1519-20
54. Mr. Colegate

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is proposing to take to implement the recommendations of the Gowers Report on Historic Houses.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Her Majesty's Government fully appreciate the need for action to preserve houses of outstanding historic and architectural interest. In present circumstances the financial resources which can be allocated for this purpose must be very limited, but the Government are carefully considering how best they can be employed.

Mr. Colegate

Can my hon. Friend give an assurance that there will be legislation on this matter at an early date? Is he aware that there is a rapid deterioration of these houses?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I can give no assurance as to legislation.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is the Financial Secretary aware that this is a matter which has caused considerable concern in all parts of the House, and that during the Budget debates of last year I gave, on behalf of the previous Administration, an undertaking that we would introduce legislation in the autumn to carry out certain proposals which I then outlined? Can he tell us whether the Government adhere to those proposals, and what their policy in this matter is, because this matter has become extremely urgent?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I fully appreciate the importance of this matter and of the right hon. Gentleman's comments, from which I do not dissent, but I do not want to add to the answer that I have already given, namely, that we are carefully considering how best to employ the limited resources which can be made available.

Sir E. Keeling

Is my hon. Friend aware that houses which are among the greatest British contributions to civilisation are rapidly deteriorating or are even being pulled down because there is nobody to maintain them?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I fully appreciate the importance and the urgency of this question.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that no amount of financial stringency can justify the neglect of quite irreplaceable treasures and that that is the view of all sections of this House? Can he give the House an estimate of the number of houses which have been destroyed during the eight months in which the Government have tried to make up their minds?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

If the hon. Member will put down a Question I will answer it, and if the information is available I will give it to him.

Mr. Vane

Will my hon. Friend also bear in mind that apart from the proposals which the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Leeds, South (Mr. Gaitskell) referred to, there is a much simpler method of trying to make it possible for many of these houses to continue to exist, and that is to assess them for Income Tax under Schedule D instead of Schedule A?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

That is another, though I agree important, matter.

Mr. Colegate

I beg to give notice in view of the vague nature of the reply that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.