§ 2.37 p.m.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to take action for the preservation of the houses of outstanding historic and architectural interest which were the subject of a Report in 1950.]
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government fully appreciate the need for action to preserve houses of outstanding historic and archi- 590 tectural interest, but in present circumstances the financial resources which can be allocated for this purpose must inevitably be very limited. Her Majesty's Government are, however, giving careful consideration to the question of how best the help which might be available can be made effective.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, while thanking the noble Earl for his answer—which I do as a matter of courtesy, because it is a most unsatisfactory answer—I should like to ask him whether he realises that it will cause anxiety and distress to members in all parts of your Lordships' House, and among all those people in the country who are concerned about the safety of one of the greatest contributions which our people have ever made to world culture. I should like the noble Earl to say whether he is aware that when the National Trust—who probably know more about this subject than does any other institution—gave evidence before the Gowers Committee, they prepared a list of between 300 and 400 houses of outstanding importance—a much smaller, but more important list than that of 2,000 which appears in the Gowers Report itself—and that during the interval up to the end of last year no fewer than forty of these houses, representing 10 per cent., have disappeared. Does not the noble Earl think that this is a most serious situation? I should like to ask the Government whether, in view of the great importance of this matter, and the unsatisfactory character of the answer which has been given, they will be prepared to afford facilities for a fuller discussion of this problem.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords. I do not think there will be a great deal of difference between us in regard to the remarks which have fallen from the noble Lord, other than that the financial implications are all-important. If the noble Lord requires a debate, no doubt he will make arrangements through the usual channels.