HC Deb 04 April 1968 vol 762 cc136-7W
50. Mr. Eyre

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in how many inquiries into objections to building preservation orders still undetermined he has communicated the advice received from the Chief Investigator of Historic Buildings to the parties concerned; and in how many such cases the Chief Investigator had inspected the building concerned before he gave that advice.

Mr. MacDermot

In two cases, in both of which the parties concerned were asked whether, in the light of this advice, they wished the inquiry to be re-opened. The Chief Investigator had not personally inspected the building concerned in either case.

51 and 52. Mr. Allason

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) by what authority he nominates representatives of the Chief Investigator of Historic Buildings to sit as assessors at inquiries into objections to building preservation orders;

(2) whether, in cases of inquiries into objections to building preservation orders when he decides that the presence of a representative of the Chief Investigator of Historic Buildings is required, he will cause the representative to appear as a witness to give expert evidence and to be subject to cross-examination.

Mr. MacDermot

An Investigator of Historic Buildings may become involved in one of three ways:—

(1) He may be called as a witness at the inquiry, in which case, of course, he may be cross-examined.

(2) The Minister may seek his advice before reaching a decision following

1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67
£ £ £ £ £ £
Capital Grants:
Highways 1,492 2,764
Special Revenue Grants:
Sewerage and sewage disposal 636 175 22
Improvement grants 3,143 3,730 4,504 4,976 5,551 6,134
Highways 303 559 2,791 515 1,195 2,884
Administration of Justice 4,632 4,883 5,683 5,394 5,889 7,224
Miscellaneous 107 231 241 251 294
Housing Subsidies 64,772 63,417 70,292 69,351 69,881 74,828
Rate-deficiency Grant 25,534 27,267 78,496 87,630 93,059 97,963
Rating (Interim Relief) Act (Sections 1 and 5) 2 2 275
Rating Act 1966 Rate Rebates 12,140
TOTALS 99,127 100,031 162,019 168,109 177,320 204,506
Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental Records.