§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much public money has been made available to rescue archaeology in each of the last 10 years.
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§ Mr. MacfarlaneMy Department's grants for rescue archaeology for the years from 1976–77 are shown in the following table. Figures for earlier years are not readily available.
Year £ 1976–77 1,902,000 1977–78 1,998,000 1978–79 2,566,000 1979–80 2,933,000 1980–81 3,656,000 1981–82 *4,500,000 * Estimate.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much from public funds has been spent in recording findings from State-funded archaeological digs; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneA total of £2,057,000 has been spent in post-excavation work and publication of findings from State-funded archaeological digs during the period from 1 April 1977 to 31 March 1982. Figures for earlier years are not readily available. This money is part of the total expenditure by my Department on rescue archaeology. It relates to work which is essential to complete the purpose of archaeological excavation; that is, preservation of the historical and archaeological environment either by preservation and protection in situ or by publication of excavation reports and storage or archives.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current level of establishment in the Department of the Environment for archaeology and related matters; what is the establishment of bodies funded by the Department for the same purpose; and what is the total sum spent on salaries in each year for each body.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe Department's main input to archaeological work is carried out from within those 66 members of the inspectorate of ancient monuments and historic buildings who are engaged primarily on the wide range of work in connection with ancient monuments and their preservation. The work includes the giving of advice on scheduling and on monuments in the care of or grant - aided by the Department. Supervision of a programme of rescue archaeology undertaken by various outside bodies is also exercised within that group.
Establishment numbers and costs of bodies in receipt of rescue excavation grants are not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend.