§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many properties of national importance have been bought by the heritage memorial fund since it was established in 1980.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)My Lords, the National Heritage Memorial Fund does not make outright purchases on other than a temporary basis but assists other bodies to acquire, maintain or preserve items of importance to the national heritage. From its inception in 1980 to the end of the last financial year the fund assisted some 430 projects with funds totalling about £82 million.
§ Lord GainfordMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer, which will encourage those involved in the preservation of historic buildings. Can he also say whether the fund assists those who may find objects of archaeological interest on such sites while engaged in this work?
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, yes. Indeed, I can confirm to my noble friend that the fund is active in that sphere. It has just included and aided work with regard to a medieval coin find in Aberdeen.
§ Baroness Gardner of ParkesMy Lords, can the Minister assure me that the department casts a careful eye on those buildings to be preserved? Having preserved most of the buildings in London which need it, I hope that it does not just look for buildings that are not worthy of the support of the heritage fund.
The Earl of CaithnessMy Lords, the fund has trustees nobly led by the noble Lord, Lord Charteris of Amisfield, and it does an exceptionally good job without interference from the Government.