§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will publish a table showing the amount of funding given by English Heritage and the Department of the Environment to projects in the last 10 years;
(2) if he will list section 3A payments given by English Heritage since February 1990;
(3) if he will give the current staffing complement of English Heritage;
(4) if he has met the chair of English Heritage to discuss relocation; and if he will make a statement;
(5) if he will list the amount of money given to English Heritage in each year since 1979.
§ Mr. TrippierThe detailed breakdown of expenditure on building repair grants and information on staff complement are matters for English Heritage. I have asked the chairman, Lord Montagu, to write to the hon. Member. Government funding to English Heritage since it was established in 1984 is as follows:
£ million (cash) 1984–85 49.9 1985–86 52.2 1986–87 60.1 1987–88 65.3 1988–89 66.2 1989–90 72.9 1990–91 78.5 Comparable information in respect of the period from 1979 until English Heritage was established, when the Department of the Environment had responsibility for funding historic buildings, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Secretary of State and myself have met the chairman of English Heritage on a number of occasions and have discussed many issues, including relocation. In line with Government policy, English Heritage has been considering options for relocating its London headquarters staff to the regions. On 17 October, English Heritage commissioners agreed to move the majority of their London-based posts (about 650 administrators and specialists) to Nottingham in 1992–94. This is subject to the acquisition of a suitable building and detailed approval from the Government, particularly on the resources involved.