HC Deb 22 February 1967 vol 741 cc1712-3
30. Mr. Galbraith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in each of the last five years in the statutory listing of historic buildings.

Mr. Ross

With permission I will circulate the details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

In total during the last five years some 1,600 buildings or groups of buildings have been statutorily listed, involving notices to some 13,000 separate owners and occupiers.

Mr. Galbraith

Is the right hon. Gentleman really satisfied that enough progress is being made? Does not he realise that the distinctive nature of Scottish domestic architecture in towns is being destroyed before our very eyes, and that this is doing great harm to the tourist industry? Cannot he try to do something more about it?

Mr. Ross

When I point out that of the 1,600 buildings which I mentioned nearly 1,500 were listed in the last two years, the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we have done a lot better than was done in the preceding years. We have had this power since 1947. Prior to 1962 the number listed was 173. In 1962, for instance, when the hon. Gentleman was more directly concerned with this matter, none at all was listed.

Mr. Woodburn

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the Historic Buildings Council may have difficulty in finding money to preserve some of these buildings when such huge sums are required for perhaps two items like Culzean and Brodick Castle? Would not he consider it desirable that rather large buildings like Hatfield, Culzean and Brodick Castle should be taken out of the jurisdiction of the Council and be statutorily listed?

Mr. Ross

That is an entirely different point. The point of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) concerned the protection given to the listing. It is a very difficult job, first because of the nature of the staff required to do it, and, secondly, the difficulty in describing the buildings, which involves a search through the Register of Sasines; and, thirdly, the number of notices which must be issued, having traced all those people with an interest in the building.

Following are the details:

BUILDINGS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST
STATUTORY LISTS ISSUED IN LAST FIVE YEARS
Year Number of items Approximate Number of Notices issued to Owners, Occupiers, etc. Areas
1962 … Nil — —
1963 … 65 100 Dundee ("A" buildings); Parish of East Kilbride (part of which later became a burgh)
1964 … 54 1,200 Edinburgh (part)
1965 … 670 6,300 Burghs of Stirling and Perth; Dundee (other buildings); Edinburgh (part)
1966 (and January, 1967) … 809 5,600 Burgh of Inveraray; Glasgow ("A" buildings); Edinburgh (part) Aberdeen