§ Mr. FauldsTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage for what reason she accepted the advice of English Heritage to cover over for perpetuity the site of the original Globe theatre before archaeologists and academics had the opportunity to pursue the excavations to determine the position and the shape and size of the stage, without further consultation. [21235]
§ Mr. SproatThe Globe's remains were discovered in 1989 and part of the site was subsequently excavated and fully recorded; the exposed material was protected by a temporary covering. The current development proposals do not involve any disturbance of the Globe's remains. They do, however, provide an opportunity to replace the temporary protection, and it is in respect of that work that scheduled monument consent was applied for and granted last year. In this particular case, it would not have been open to us, even if we had wished, to attach conditions to the statutory consent requiring further excavation. Leaving the Globe's remains buried will keep open the possibility of their being further investigated in the future when this can be done comprehensively and well. This approach to the remains is consistent with Government policy set out in PPG16, "Archaeology and Planning".