HC Deb 14 March 1974 vol 870 c4W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Prime Minister (1) if he will implement the suggestion mooted in the document "A Practical Arts Policy", written by the hon. Member for Smethwick in March 1973, a copy of which was sent to him, that the responsibility for archaeological remains, ancient monuments and historic buildings should be transferred to the Minister for the Arts to form a new Ministry of Culture and Historic Heritage;

(2) if he will implement the suggestion mooted in the document "A Practical Arts Policy", written by the hon. Member for Smethwick in March 1973, a copy of which was sent to him, that the responsibility for film matters should be transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Minister for the Arts.

The Prime Minister

Under present departmental arrangements my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science has a general co-ordinating rôle in relation to artistic and cultural matters and will have an effective interest from this point of view both in the work of the film industry and in those matters concerning ancient monuments and historic buildings which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment.

These arrangements will naturally be kept under review.