§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what representations have been received by his Department regarding the type of slate to be used on the roof of listed buildings at Royal William yard in Plymouth, and if he is prepared to accept further representations. [27787]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 12 June 1995]: My Department has received representations from Camborne Natural Slate Ltd. As with all applications for scheduled monument consent, I will consider all relevant representations up to the time of my decision.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans he has to make recommendations to the Plymouth development corporation regarding the type of slate which should be used to cover the roof area of listed buildings within the Royal William yard; and if he will make a statement. [27791]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 12 June 1995]: I have no such plans. My Department has received six applications for scheduled monument consent from the Plymouth development corporation to refurbish individual buildings in the Royal William yard, Plymouth, which would include the replacement of roof slates. My Department is currently considering advice received from English Heritage, which has had discussions with the development corporation about the choice of historically appropriate slates. I will issue decisions in due course.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is the total cost difference between using Camborne slate and Welsh slate to cover the roofs of listed buildings at Royal William yard in Plymouth. [27784]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 12 June 1995]: Precise figures cannot be released for reasons of commercial confidentiality but I understand that Welsh slates are expected to be 50 per cent. more expensive than Camborne slates.
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what scientific evidence has been presented to his Department by English Heritage in respect of its decision to recommend the use of Welsh slate on the roof of listed buildings at Royal William yard in Plymouth. [27786]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 12 June 1995]: I am advised by English Heritage that Rennie's original specification for roofing material in Royal William yard merely required best sized Queen Rag slates. The actual source of the slates was not specified, and has not been identified by historical research. In practice, the choice would have been between Welsh and Cornish slates. The latter are no longer available in the quantity required, and Welsh slates remain the likely nearest equivalent historically, and the best match in terms of tones and textures.
519W
§ Mr. JamiesonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what was the original slate specification in the application for monument consent by Plymouth development corporation regarding the roof area of listed buildings at Royal William yard; how many times the slate specification has since been changed; and what is the current slate specification. [27788]
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 12 June 1995]: None of the six applications for scheduled monument consent contained a specification for a particular source of slate when first submitted by the Plymouth development corporation. Camborne natural slates were subsequently proposed by the Plymouth development corporation for four of the applications, but all the applications have now been changed by the corporation to specify slates of Welsh origin.