HC Deb 21 November 1966 vol 736 cc926-7
28. Mr. John Smith

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress he is making with the listing of industrial monuments.

Mr. Boyden

Thirty industrial monuments have been scheduled an ancient monuments and some others are being scheduled. A considerable amount of preliminary work has been done towards establishing which monuments are worth preserving.

Mr. Smith

Could the Minister hasten this, because not only do these monuments vanish very rapidly owing to the value of the sites they occupy but they have a great educational value? Apart from anything else, they are part of the history of the trade union movement.

Mr. Boyden

I have advocated this both from the back benches and from my present position. One of the keys to this is the good will of industry. We have been discussing this with industry, which is very well disposed towards the general problem. I should be most grateful if the hon. Gentleman used his influence in that direction also.

Mr. Heffer

Is my hon. Friend aware that far too many workers are still working in these industrial monuments?

Mr. Boyden

They are not the sort we wish to preserve.

Mr. Kershaw

What about embalming the National Plan and putting that up somewhere?