§ 7. Mr. Peter M. Jacksonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will liaise with the Minister of Public Building and Works to protect sites scheduled under the Historic Building and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 and the Ancient Monuments Act 1931 from the depredations of ploughing, particularly deep ploughing.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. John Mackie)Under longstanding arrangements, the Ministry of Public Building and Works notifies my Department of all scheduled ancient monuments situated on agricultural land and we take steps, in connection with any application for grant-aid, to remind the applicant of his obligations under the Ancient Monuments Acts.
§ Mr. JacksonWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that reply, may I draw his attention to the recent report by Sir David Walsh on his inquiry into the arrangements for the protection of ancient monuments and in particular to paragraphs 19 to 24 suggesting that many ancient monuments are coming under threat by new agricultural techniques? Will he ask members of the National Agricultural Advisory Service to advise owners of the fact that they are operating in areas where there are such monuments?
§ Mr. MackieWe have this arrangement as I explained, but I will look into the matter of the new techniques which my hon. Friend has mentioned.