HC Deb 04 December 1985 vol 88 c295
11. Mr. John Mark Taylor

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on current levels of expenditure upon the upkeep of ancient monuments and list those voluntary bodies which receive support from the Government in that work.

Mr. Tracey

In the current financial year the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission will spend £13 million on monuments in its care —an increase of 25 per cent. over the previous year —and over £7 million on grants to owners of other monuments. My Department will spend over £18 million on the upkeep of monuments in the Royal and Crown Estates. My right hon. Friend recognises the important contributions of voluntary bodies in this field and offered grants of over £250,000 towards their administrative expenses.

Mr. Taylor

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Can he reassure us that he considers that we are getting good value for money from voluntary organisations? Does he think that we are getting the balance right between access to and protection of historic sites?

Mr. Tracey

I think that we are getting very good value for money. In this country we have some of the finest examples of ancient monuments. This is recognised throughout the world and is evidenced by the number of visitors to them. As to granting public access to monuments, the HBMC weighs all the necessary factors in determining the strategy for each monument.

Mr. Nellist

Is the Minister aware that we have 20,000 ancient monuments in Coventry, 1,000 of them unfit for human habitation, 6,000 without hot and cold running water, baths, showers or inside toilets, and 14,000 requiring repairs of over £5,000 to make them fit for people to live in? How many more years under the Tory Government will working-class families in the centre of Coventry have to live in ancient monuments of houses over 100 years old that are unfit for human habitation?

Mr. Tracey

I suspect that the hon. Gentleman has addressed that question to the wrong Minister. Our inspectorate would certainly find it difficult to agree with him.