§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provisions exist at present for public access to listed buildings; and whether he will consider extending the provision.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellMost listed buildings are in private ownership and many are modest private dwellings to which it would be neither appropriate nor practicable to provide public access.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many category C listed buildings are currently undergoing re-evaluation;
(2) if he will undertake a complete revaluation of all category C listed buildings.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe review of the lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest is a continuing process, carried out with the resources which can be provided. It is impossible to say at any time how many buildings of each category are being reviewed.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the protection afforded to category C listed buildings under existing legislation.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellCategory C buildings are not automatically protected by statute, because they are of local rather than national interest. A local planning authority however may protect such a building by serving a preservation notice which confers listed building status for up to six months, during which time the authority may ask me to include the building in the statutory list. And in a conservation area the authority may require its consent to be obtained before a category C building is demolished. I have no evidence that these provisions are not being effective.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many inspectors his Department employs on a full-time basis on the re-evaluation of listed buildings.
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§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThere are three full-time historic buildings investigators, but none of them is engaged solely on the revision of lists.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the criteria used by the inspectors of his Department in grading listed buildings.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThe booklet "Scotland's Historic Buildings: a guide to the legislation which protects them" sets out the broad criteria. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will establish an appeal procedure against a decision not to list a building.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellNo, but I am prepared to consider representations about a particular building, with the advice of the Historic Buildings Council where appropriate.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what machinery exists for members of the public to suggest additions to the supplementary list of listed buildings.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellAnybody may at any time suggest to my Department an addition to the statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.