HC Deb 11 March 1968 vol 760 cc951-2
11. Mr. Costain

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proposals he has to encourage more tourists to visit ancient monuments and historic buildings under his care.

17. Mr. Currie

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what has been the total receipts from the sale of postcards and guides of ancient monuments and historic buildings in the last three years.

22. Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what have been the total admissions to ancient monuments and historic buildings in the last three years.

Mr. Mellish

Between 1965 and 1967 receipts from the sale of publications increased from £168,000 to £248,000. Admission to ancient monuments went up from 8.9 million to just over 10 million.

I propose to continue and develop the publicity and other measures which have contributed to the increase in the number of visitors. In particular, a travelling exhibition on historic monuments is due to open in London before Whitsun. I have recently announced improvements to be made at Stonehenge. I also hope that arrangements can be made for short films of individual monuments to be shown on television.

Mr. Costain

I congratulate the Minister on the progress that he has made, but can he tell us what communications and interchange of ideas he has had with the British Tourist Association, and what amount of advertising of ancient monuments is done overseas?

Mr. Mellish

Off the cuff, I cannot answer that, except to say that I am seriously considering having an O. & M. team come into my Department to see what we can learn from experts outside. I want to do anything that can be done to advertise the greatest monuments that we have, and if the hon. Member—or any other hon. Member—has any practical suggestions I shall seriously consider them.

Mr. Currie

In view of the drive to encourage people to buy British, can the Minister say how many postcards depicting ancient monuments and public buildings are printed in the United Kingdom?

Mr. Mellish

The hon. Member will not be surprised if I tell him that I do not know the answer, but I shall certainly investigate. I shall be shocked if I find that they are not being printed in the United Kingdom. They had better be.

Mr. Whitaker

Is my right hon. Friend aware that he will receive the strongest support from both sides of the House for anything he can do to stop further spoliation of ancient monuments? Is he satisfied that the present maximum penalty is sufficient to deter people from this?

Mr. Mellish

I believe that that point is raised in a later Question on Stonehenge, where some special activities have been going on.