§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What are their plans to provide statutory safeguards for those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status; and [HL3098]
What are their plans to provide financial support for the conservation of those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status. [HL3099]
§ Lord McIntosh of HaringeyThere are no plans to provide statutory safeguards for those ships which are listed by the National Historic Ships Project as either of "core collection" or "designated" status. While the Government recognise the importance of historic ships to our heritage, we are not convinced that the extension of statutory protection to them is either necessary or appropriate.
Her Majesty's Government do not provide direct financial support for the conservation of historic ships other than through the provision of grant-in-aid to those museums, funded by my department, which hold historic vessels as part of their collections. However, since 1995 the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded grants totalling nearly £7 million for the support of historic ships.