HC Deb 09 May 1984 vol 59 cc868-9
3. Mr. Colvin

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is considering granting any extra funds for the Historic Building and Monuments Commission for England.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Neil Macfarlane)

I have no plans to increase the grant-in-aid of £52 million allocated to the commission for this financial year.

Mr. Colvin

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Will grants be available only for listed structures? Will my hon. Friend's Department, or the new commission, be responsible for the designation of listed structures? What will happen to applications for grant that were already in the pipeline on 1 April when the commission took over its task, such as Hythe pier in my constituency?

Mr. Macfarlane

I cannot give a specific answer to the constituency case affecting my hon. Friend, but I undertake to look into that point. I understand that he has referred to an unlisted building. No money is available from the commission for unlisted buildings. I am confident that the commission has been staffed by experienced people from my Department. The necessary expertise to fulfil its functions has been given to the commission. My hon. Friend might need to take up some aspects of his question direct with the commission.

Mr. Key

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that, given the fact that no extra grants will be available to it, the commission will be able to cope with the compensation payable after the illegal Stonehenge pop festival? Will my hon. Friend give every possible support to encourage the commission and the National Trust to persuade people that the festival is illegal?

Mr. Macfarlane

I cannot give my hon. Friend any guarantees, because that is primarily a matter for the Home Office. I know that my hon. Friend raised this matter with the Home Office on a previous occasion. The benefit of the new commission is that it can handle cases more efficiently and effectively. The commission has the necessary expertise, and my hon. Friend should direct his attention to that body.