§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to bring forward proposals to amend the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 to prohibit the ploughing of scheduled monuments.
§ Mr. Brooke[holding answer 26 February 1993]: The present position is that the Ancient Monuments (Class Consents) Order 1981 gives general permission for normal ploughing on scheduled sites which were under the plough during the five years up to October 1981. Specific consent is required for deep ploughing and for the ploughing, of previously uncultivated sites. Certain aspects of the order are currently being reviewed, but I see no case for any general prohibition. New trends in agricultural practices can offer new opportunities to protect archaeological sites and monuments through co-operation with the farming community.