§ 2.44 p.m.
THE EARL OF HADDINGTONMy 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, in view of its importance as a national monument and archaeological 300 site, they will take steps to restrict the quarrying of Traprain Law, East Lothian.]
§ THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (THE EARL OF MUNSTER)My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Works has given this matter close consideration, following consultation with the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland. He is most anxious that quarrying work should be restricted to the minimum, in view of the outstanding archeological importance of Traprain Law. The East Lothian County Council has certain commitments which will involve quarrying for some years more: but the case will, of course, be carefully considered before quarrying is extended beyond the area of the lease now being worked.
THE EARL OF HADDINGTONMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply, and I am grateful to the Minister of Works for the personal interest which he has taken in this matter. May I ask the noble Earl one further question? What he said of the outstanding importance to archaeology of Traprain Law is perfectly true. Traces of man's habitation for over 2,000 years and more which lie there, through the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and all the period of Roman occupation, wait to be revealed and recorded. But the Law is more than that: it is in itself a national monument and, so far as possible, should be preserved in its entirety. I come now to my question, which is this: will any effective action that the present Government may take to limit quarrying be binding for all time? Because even if something is done now, we are bound to be apprehensive of the future.
§ THE EARL OF MUNSTERMy Lords, I do not think I can give the noble Earl that assurance, but what I can tell him clearly is that my right honourable friend the present Minister of Works is opposed to any more quarrying than is absolutely unavoidable. Beyond that I do not think I can go.