§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek an early meeting with the chairman of English Heritage to discuss the reasons it decided to replace the roof of 6–7 Grosvenor place with material imported from the United States rather than traditional Lakeland slate which is already in use.
§ Mr. YeoIt would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to discuss this case with English Heritage given the182W possibility of a subsequent appeal against refusal of listed building consent. The Government's general policy is that alterations to listed buildings should be in character with the building, and that care should be taken to use appropriate materials, but choice of materials is a matter for the owners of a building, having regard to expert advice and to the terms of any listed building consent. I understand that no decision has yet been made in this case.