§ Mr. Beithasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as a result of limitations on staff recruitment, any changes have been or are to be made in the opening hours of Norham castle and Warkworth castle, Northumberland.
§ Mr. MonroThe number of custodians at ancient monuments in the care of the Department has been reduced because we are restraining recruitment and reviewing management and staffing.
Some monuments which would in the past have been open in winter are either closed or open without a custodian. Authority has been given to recruit staff for full summer opening of monuments from early April.
Warkworth and Norham castles were previously open all the year. At both monuments the full-time custodian is sick. Warkworth castle is in consequence closed, though the grounds are open. Norham castle is opened by the part-time custodian for only one and a half days each week. Staff are to be recruited for full summer opening.