HC Deb 15 November 1965 vol 720 cc659-61
14. Captain W. Elliot

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many public events are planned for 1966 at historic buildings in his charge; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Boyden

Twenty-one such events have been agreed, or are being considered.

Captain Elliot

Is the Parliamentary Secretary really satisfied with this pro- gramme? Would he not agree that this country is very well endowed with historic buildings of great beauty and that many of them are not being put to adequate use? Would he not also agree that if we increased this programme greatly it would very much assist the growing and important tourist industry?

Mr. Boyden

We are indeed proud of our historic monuments and buildings and we consider sympathetically all cases that are put to us. However, the hon. and gallant Gentleman must bear in mind that in some historic monuments activities of this sort interfere with the residents who live in or near them.

21. Sir J. Rodgers

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many new publications relating to historic buildings in his charge are planned for 1966.

Mr. Boyden

Twenty-six.

Sir J. Rodgers

In view of the importance of tourism to help in our balance of payments, is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that his Department is doing enough to publicise the historic buildings under his care? Can he further state whether those pamphlets and guides will be published in other languages than English and, if so, which are these languages?

Mr. Boyden

I shall gladly send the hon. Member the list, but, on the whole, productivity under this Government has been much better than under the previous Administration. At the end of 1965 we shall have produced 27 guides of the sort he has mentioned, while in 1964 only 14 were published. As the chairman of the committee dealing with the matter, I have this very much in mind.

28. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will hold consultations with the Minister of Housing and Local Government on the improvement of the protection of the surroundings of historic buildings and ancient monuments.

Mr. Boyden

My right hon. Friend is not aware of a need for any further special consultations with the Minister of Housing and Local Government but if the hon. Member has any particular difficulty in mind perhaps he would let me know.

Mr. Allason

Is the hon. Gentleman proposing to implement the resolution of the Council of Europe on this?

Mr. Boyden

My right hon. Friend has power, under the Ancient Monuments Act, to protect the scheduled area of any ancient monument, and the protection of ancient buildings is the responsibility of the local authority and the Minister of Housing and Local Government.