HL Deb 23 November 1995 vol 567 cc17-8WA
Lord Renfrew of Kaimsthorn

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What qualifications and qualities the Department of Transport were seeking when they appointed a freelance archaeologist to give advice on road improvement schemes near Stonehenge (H.L. Deb., 31 October, col. 1344), when the appointment was made, whether the position was advertised, what has been the cost of such advice, and why they did not follow usual practice in taking such advice from the Government's statutory advisers, English Heritage, without additional government expenditure.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Transport (Viscount Goschen):

The Highways Agency appointed Sir William Halcrow and Partners in August 1991 as consultants for the A.303 Amesbury Berwick Down improvement scheme. They were required to engage specialists to deal with all areas of environmental assessment, and they appointed Dr. John Samuels as their archaeological consultant. The commission was advertised for competitive tenders on a lump sum basis; therefore it is not possible to identify the costs of individual aspects such as archaeology. It is not usual practice to use English Heritage to carry out such archaeological assessment work; however, the agency together with Dr. Samuels have and will continue to consult English Heritage, in their role as advisers to the Government, on the A.303 Amesbury Berwick Down improvement scheme.