§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How much the Department of the Environment spent on consultancy fees in connection with historic buildings, ancient monuments and Areas of Outsanding Natural Beauty, and related matters, in 1979, 1984 and 1989.
§ Lord HeskethInformation relating to 1979/80 is no longer readily available and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
The figures for 1984/85 and 1989/90, exclusive of consultancy expenditure by non-departmental public bodies supported by the department, are:
- 1984/85: £ 1.438 million (approx);
- 1989/90: £ 0.269 million (forecast outturn).
The decrese in the figures from 1984/85 to 1989/90 is due to a steadily decreasing level of consultancy fee payments for inspectors who resurvey historic buildings for possible inclusion in the Secretary of State's statutory list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The resurvey has taken place over many years and the level of activity has been reducing as the resurvey nears completion.