§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will list the cinemas in England and Wales that have a preservation order on them. [103169]
§ Janet AndersonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has the power to list buildings in England; the responsibility for listing buildings in Wales rests with the Welsh National Assembly. Local planning authorities can serve Building Preservation Notices (BPNs) in respect of buildings which are not listed, but which they consider are of special architectural or historic interest and are under threat. BPNs remain in force for six months during which the Secretary of State must decide whether to list the building concerned. There are no such cases currently before him.
There are 123 listed cinema buildings in England; English Heritage recently launched a public consultation in respect of a further 30 cinema buildings which it has identified as having the potential for listing. The consultation period lasts until 1 March next year, after which English Heritage will submit its recommendations to the Secretary of State for decision.