HC Deb 01 February 1995 vol 253 cc676-7W
Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what progress he now expects to make towards the resolution of the issues which have prevented the transfer of responsibility for protected wrecks in English waters to English Heritage.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 31 January 1995]: It remains departmental policy to seek to transfer responsibility for protected wrecks in English waters to English Heritage. Some issues needing to be resolved are still under discussion but the Treasury Solicitor advises that no transfer can in any case be made without primary legislation, for which there is no immediate parliamentary opportunity.

Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how many licences are currently in force for archaeological work on protected wreck sites; and how many of these licensees have so far published field work information or deposited copies of their reports with the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 31 January 1995]: There are currently four licences in force covering archaeological investigation of protected wreck sites. In the last diving season 26 licences were issued in respect of archaeological investigation: three by the Secretary of State for Scotland, two by the Secretary of State for Wales, and 21 by my own Department. I expect that a similar number will be issued for the next diving season.

There is published information about 23 of the sites for which licences were issued in 1994 and those licensed to dive are known to have published information on nine of those sites. Since 1992 one report has been formally deposited with the Royal Commission on the historical monuments of England. Full information about fieldwork reports published by those licensed to dive is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what has been the annual cost to his Department of the functions relating to protected wrecks in English waters in each of the past five years.

Mr. Dorrell

[holding answer 31 January 1995]: The costs of exercising the functions relating to protected wrecks in United Kingdom waters' for the last five years are as follows:

£000
1990–912 110
1991–923 227
1992–934 5307
1993–94 271
1994–95 255
1 The majority of expenditure is incurred on a United Kingdom basis.2 The Department of Transport was responsible for underwater archaeology until April 1991.
3 The Department of the Environment was responsible for underwater archaeology until April 1992.
4 The Department of National Heritage has been responsible for underwater archaeology since April 1992.
5 This figure includes costs associated with a new, expanded contract with the ADU.

The figures include the cost of marking wrecks on land and at sea and a contract with the archaeological diving unit based at St. Andrew's university to provide advice in relation to wrecks of historical, archaeological or artistic interest. They also include approximate figures to cover the varying costs of the advisory committee on historic wreck sites, and, from April 1991, diminishing grants to voluntary organisations carrying out projects connected with the Department's underwater archaeology objectives, and departmental staff costs.