11. Earl of Dalkeithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the purpose of his policy of listing certain buildings as being of historic or architectural merit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonThe purpose is to guide local authorities in performing their functions under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1947. 1330 Statutory listing is going ahead as fast as resources allow.
Earl of DalkeithWould the Minister of State agree that this magnificent work of listing which is going on will be quite fruitless unless it is carried to its logical conclusion of implementing many building preservation orders? Does he realise that the record in Scotland over building preservation orders is deplorable when compared with that of England?
§ Dr. MabonThe answer to the first question is "Yes", and on the second I would not agree. There are one or two outstandingly bad examples—I concur in that—but the record generally is fair. Putting the past aside, in future both local authorities and the Government intend to do better.