HL Deb 18 May 1989 vol 507 c1402WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will list the occasions on which the Secretary of State for the Environment has declined to list a building against the advice of English Heritage, his statutory advisers, that it is of architectural or historic interest.

Lord Hesketh

All cases are considered on their merits, but the final decision rests with the Secretary of State. A record is not kept of the number of occasions on which the Secretary of State has decided not to accept the advice of English Heritage.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice other than that of his statutory advisers the Secretary of State for the Environment seeks on the listing of buildings of architectural and historic interest.

Lord Hesketh

Section 54(3) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971 states that the Secretary of State shall consult with English Heritage and with such other persons or bodies of persons as appear to him appropriate as having special knowledge of, or interest in, buildings of architectural or historic interest. In the vast majority of cases the Secretary of State does not look beyond English Heritage for advice.