§ Mr. LintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to undertake a further review of the ecclesiastical exemption from listed building and conservation area controls. [145586]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthWe fully accept the need to continue to monitor the ecclesiastical exemption regime and the progress made by exempt denominations in implementing the recommendations of the 1997 Newman review. We currently have in hand a review of policies relating to all aspects of the historic environment, which will culminate in a major policy statement in the spring. Once that review is complete, and against the background 595W of its conclusions, we will undertake a further assessment of the exemption.