§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
How, within the Ministry of Defence, it is determined whether churches and chapels becoming redundant are of "sufficient architectural or historic merit" to be listed for statutory protection.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Lord Henley)A recommendation for listing a church or chapel would normally be made by English Heritage to the Secretary of State for Heritage (or by the appropriate national heritage body for Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) as a result of their surveys, including thematic studies which English Heritage are at present conducting on Ministry of Defence buildings such as barracks, dockyards and aviation structures. Where a site is in disposal, my department will make a proposal for listing or, alternatively, apply for a certificate of immunity where this is judged necessary to remove uncertainty about whether a building should be given statutory protection.