§ Mr. Gerald BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has on the number of heritage properties in public ownership which are open to view; and what incentives his Department makes available to private owners of properties to make their properties open to view.
§ Mr. TrippierEnglish Heritage owns, or manages on behalf of the Crown, over 400 historic properties, monuments and sites to which there is public access. The Historic Royal Palaces Agency has responsibility for six unoccupied royal palaces in London to which there is also public access. Both bodies are funded by the Department. In addition, a number of individual Government Departments and local authorities are responsible for other historic property, some of which is in use as office accommodation and to some of which there is public access. There is, however, no centrally held record of access arrangements to such properties.
185WThis Department offers no direct incentives to private owners to open their properties to public view. However, private owners can be eligible for building repair grant from English Heritage provided there is provision for public access. In addition, Inland Revenue offers relief from certain capital taxes to encourage owners to keep and care for heritage property on condition that public access is provided.