§ 32. Mr. Derek Pageasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the cost of the pilot survey of historic towns; and how this cost is to be apportioned.
§ Mr. MacCollThe consultants fees for these studies are being negotiated separately for each of the towns, and the total amount has not yet been settled It is proposed that the cost should be shared equally between my Department and the local authorities concerned.
§ Mr. PageDoes not the Joint Parliamentary Secretary agree that it is very unfair that King's Lynn should already have spent £2,000 on a survey for the preservation of this ancient centre? Does he not agree that since the benefits of this new survey will be available to the whole nation there is no reason in the world why the local authority should bear any of this cost?
§ Mr. MacCollThe present survey will go much beyond the previous survey to 221 which my hon. Friend has referred. King's Lynn will benefit from the great amount of information which will be collected on the comprehensive preservation of ancient towns.