§ 7. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Works how many historic houses on the waiting list of the Historic Buildings Council for England at the end of December, 1959, and considered by them to be of outstanding interest, have now had the repairs started; and how many still remain without the offer of a grant.
§ Lord John HopeThere were thirty-one historic buildings on the waiting list at 31st December, 1959; grants have been offered in six cases and will be offered in a further five if inquiries show that they are needed. In none of these cases has repair work yet started. One application has been withdrawn. In nineteen cases, applicants have been informed that no grant can be offered.
§ Mr. BoydenDoes the right hon. Gentleman agree with his own Council that his cut of £200,000 in the year just ended has signed the death warrant of many fine historic buildings? Can he give an assurance that in the next year that will be restored?
§ Lord John HopeIf the hon. Member looks at my Answer given on this point last week, he will see that we are looking into the whole question. It is a pity to use exaggerated language, and in that I would include the words "death warrant".
§ 8. Mr. Boydenasked the Minister of Works what improved arrangements he has made for the preservation of historic buildings of outstanding group value.
§ Lord John HopeI have recently told the Historic Buildings Council that I am prepared to consider recommendations for grants to preserve buildings in defined groups of outstanding historic or architectural interest. I must however express the hope that local authorities will take the lead in this field of preservation.
§ Mr. BoydenWhy does the right hon. Gentleman expect local authorities to take the lead? Surely the Government should take the lead in the matter? Could he be more specific about the amount of grant he proposes to offer and the steps he proposes to take?
§ Lord John HopeI have answered the hon. Member's Question. I do not want to go further on the main point. The reason I said what I said about local authorities is that I am very anxious that demands for help for groups should not prejudice what I am able to do to help individually beautiful houses.
§ Mr. H. HyndWill the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that there is more than one point of view among hon. Members on the question of giving grants of money to wealthy occupiers of historic houses?
§ Sir J. MaitlandWill my right hon. Friend say whether this money is coming from an existing fund or whether a new fund is to be formed?
§ Lord John HopeThe fund came into existence as a result of the appropriate Act passed in order to enable this help to be given.
§ Sir J. MaitlandThis is for a group?
§ Lord John HopeNo, it is the same fund.
§ Dr. StrossDoes the reply of the Minister mean that, as from now, if there be a street which should be preserved as a whole, despite the fact that one or two buildings in the street are not of real merit, the street as a whole can be preserved and a grant will be made available?
§ Lord John HopeThat is a hypothetical case. What it means is that only in exceptional cases would a grant be given, just as in the case of individual applications. The difficulty will be to see where to draw the line when a request is received for a group of houses to be helped. It will not be easy.