HC Deb 18 May 1994 vol 243 cc461-2W
Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage on how many occasions, and in what circumstances, he has disregarded the advice of English Heritage on the listing of historic buildings.

Mr. Brooke

The advice of English Heritage is never disregarded, but my decisions must finally be my own judgment of a building's special architectural or historic interest.

Since April 1992, I have added 5,550 buildings to the statutory lists. During that period, I have decided in 55 cases not to accept recommendations from English Heritage in favour of listing. In a very small number of cases, I have decided to list buildings against the advice of English Heritage.