§ Lord Swinfenasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their present proposals in relation to the removal of the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building controls.
§ The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Blatch)The Department of the Environment has today issued a consultation paper inviting comments on the proposal that the ecclesiastical exemption should be removed in respect of external works from all ecclesiastical bodies except those who can demonstrate that their internal administrative systems include adequate controls over works to their historic church buildings. The paper also proposes clarification of the present arrangements relating to controls over buildings within the curtilage of listed ecclesiastical buildings. The consultation paper has been sent to ecclesiastical, local authority and conservation interests; a copy has been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.