§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what assessment he has made of the exercise by English Heritage of its responsibility to supervise the clearing of rubble from St. Ethelburga's church, Bishopsgate; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 10 May 1994]: I am satisfied that the clearance of rubble from the church has been carried out under effective supervision. The Museum of London archaeological service was appointed by English Heritage and the Diocese of London to carry out the work to English Heritage's specification. The work has been regularly monitored on site by officers of English Heritage. The use of a mechanical digger over the May bank holiday weekend to remove 200 tonnes of compacted rubble was outside the original specification but was considered the safe and practical option. It was approved by English Heritage and the Diocese and was supervised throughout by officers of the Museum of London archaeological service. As many finds as possible had been removed by hand earlier and stacked in the vestry and garden.