§ Mr. CashTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what is her policy with respect to the removal of or change of site of war memorials(a) throughout the country and (b) in the district local authority area of Stafford district council. [40005]
§ Mr. SproatMy Department's interest in war memorials relates to whether they are statutorily protected as scheduled ancient monuments or listed buildings. In such cases, under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 and the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, scheduled monument or listed building consent would be required for their resiling or removal. Applications for scheduled monument and listed building consent are made to the Secretary of State for National Heritage and the local planning authority respectively. Any such applications would be considered in the light of the policies set out in planning policy guidance notes 15 and 16.