§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the funds for rescue archaeology to be granted over 1978–79.
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§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the annual figures of grants to rescue archaeology since 1968.
Mr. ChoreThe allocations since 1968 were as follows:
£ 1968–69 … … … 145,000 1969–70 … … … 183,176 1970–71 … … … 200,537 1971–72 … … … 297,492 1972–73 … … … 399,373 1973–74 … … … 715,644 1973–74 … … … 990,921 1975–76 … … … 1,512,500 1976–77 … … … 1,822,045 1977–78 … … … 1,890,000 1978–79 … … … 2,171,000
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the percentage proportions allocated to excavation, writing up and conservation within the total grant for archaeology.
§ Mr. ShoreGrants for 1978–79 have been allocated in these proportions:
- Current excavations and writing up—84 per cent.
- Backlog work on excavations carried out before 1972 and publications—10 per cent.
- Scientific investigations mainly of an environmental nature—4 per cent.
- Miscellaneous—2 per cent.
No distinction is made between excavation and writing up reports of current excavations since this work is a continuous process. These grants include a small element for conservation work on finds by local units. In addition, a considerable amount of conservation work is undertaken in the Department's Ancient Monuments Laboratory.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the relations between the area archaeological committees and the archaeological committees in the regions.
§ Mr. ShoreThe functions of the 13 area archaeological advisory committees are to advise of (a) policies and academic priorities for surveys and rescue excavations in the area and (b) needs for backup facilities in the area to ensure early completion and publication of reports. The committees' advice guides my Department in the distribution of grants for rescue archaeology.
633WOther, unofficial, archaeological committees also exist with various constitutions and functions. They are not responsible to me and there is no formal relationship with my area advisory committees.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he agrees that meetings of the area archaeological committees should be open and membership partly elected by interested bodies.
§ Mr. ShoreI do not think that the quality of the committees' advice would be improved by their deliberations being conducted in public. The members are appointed by me after taking account of recommendations received from local authorities and other interested parties. They include local authority representatives—both members and officers—as well as local people having relevant professional archaeological knowledge and experience.
§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he agrees that the Ancient Monuments Board should be partly elected by interested bodies, and consequently the National Committee for Rescue Archaeology as well.
§ Mr. ShoreFive members of the Ancient Monuments Board are nominated by learned bodies, as provided by statute. The Board's committee for rescue archaeology is comprised partly of members of the Board and partly of other archaeologists selected for their particular knowledge and experience. These arrangements have worked well and I do not propose to change them.