HC Deb 10 July 1956 vol 556 cc181-2
27. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Works if he will adopt the recommendation made in the Report of the Ancient Monuments Board for 1955 that, in order to accelerate the publication of reports of excavations sponsored by him, a fee should be paid, not only for the actual work of excavation, but also for the preparation of the report of such excavation.

Mr. Buchan-Hepburn

In fact, the present fees paid to supervisors are intended to provide in one instalment for the writing of the report, as well as for the actual supervision of excavations. But I share the anxiety of the Ancient Monuments Board for England to ensure the early preparation of reports on excavations sponsored by my Department, and I am considering what further improvements can be made.

Mr. Fletcher

Is the Minister repudiating the Report of his Board, which said quite categorically that the archaeological excavation is incomplete until the report is published, that the Minister's present practice does not enable reports to be published and that research workers and others interested are thereby hampered? Will he not reconsider the matter in the light of the Report of this Board?

Mr. Buchan-Hepburn

I said in my answer that I shared the anxiety of the Ancient Monuments Board for England, and that I am looking into the whole question again.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

It is not enough to share the anxiety of the Ancient Monuments Board. What we want from the Minister is an assurance that he is prepared to revise the present method of paying excavators on the lines suggested by the Board.

Mr. Buchan-Hepburn

To share the anxieties of the Board is something, but I also said that I am looking into the whole matter again.