§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what legislation he intends to introduce to protect Britain's archaeological sites from destruction by developers in the light of forthcoming directives from the EEC; if he will be providing for archaeological surveys to be made before developers commence work; and what further protection he will give to save Britain's heritage.
§ Mrs. Virginia Bottomley[pursuant to her reply, 23 January 1989, c. 454]: The regulations which brought the EC directive on environmental assessment on 15 July 1988, require environmental statements to be prepared by developers and considered by the relevant public bodies before planning permission may be given for certain major projects.
The effects of proposals on the cultural heritage are one of many items which must be covered by an environmental statement. The regulations relate only to developments which are likely to have significant environmental effects. If an ancient monument is scheduled any works which would affect it need scheduled monument consent from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State. In appropriate cases, consent may be given subject to conditions relating to archaeological investigation or recording. In other cases the provision for archaeological investigation or recording is a matter between developers, local planning authorities and archaeologists.
It has always been open to local planning authorities to consider the archaeological implications of development and impose conditions that are both appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances of the case on any planning permission that may be granted. It is my right hon. Friend's policy to encourage close links between developers, archaeologists and local planning authorities as a means of ensuring appropriate protection for non-scheduled sites.