HC Deb 13 February 1990 vol 167 cc184-5W
Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table detailing the cost of the annual applications by archaeologists to(a) his Department and (b) English Heritage for rescue archaeological work to record and excavate sites of national importance in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 12 February 1990] The total annual figure for applications approved for funding for rescue archaeological work is as follows:

Funding £ million
(a) Department of the Environment 1981–82 6.700
Department of the Environment 1982–83 7.900
Department of the Environment 1983–84 17.000
(b) English Heritage 1984–85 7.100
English Heritage 1985–86 8.745
English Heritage 1986–87 11.501
English Heritage 1987–88 12.230
English Heritage 1988–89 13.759
English Heritage 1989–90 7.107
1Estimate.

Comparable figures are available only from 1981–82.

From 1989–90 English Heritage has adopted a rolling programme for funding rescue archaeological work and no longer accepts speculative applications. The total of the applications approved is therefore expected to correspond to the funds available.

Mr. Fisher

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish a table showing the amount of funding given by(a) English Heritage and (b) his Department to rescue archaeologist projects in each of the past 10 years.

Mr. Trippier

[holding answer 12 February 1990]: The figures are as follows:

Spending £ million
Department of the Environment Funding 1981–82 4.000
Department of the Environment Funding 1982–83 4.877
Department of the Environment Funding 1983–84 5.100
English Heritage Funding 1984–85 5.538
English Heritage Funding 1985–86 5.680
English Heritage Funding 1986–87 7.437
English Heritage Funding 1987–88 7.422
English Heritage Funding 1988–89 6.877
English Heritage Funding 1989–90 17.107
1 Budgeted

Comparable figures are available only from 1981–82.

Figures from 1986–87 onwards include provision for the Greater London archaeology service, taken on by English Heritage following the abolition of the Greater London council.