§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the total amount is spent by(a) his Department and its predecessor and (b) English Heritage since its establishment on (i) design work, (ii) public consultation and inquiries and (iii) other identifiable costs in connection with Stonehenge. [131535]
599W
§ Mr. Alan Howarth[holding answer 24 July 2000]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 19 October 1999, Official Report, column 427W, giving details of costs up to mid October 1999. Since that date English Heritage has spent; (i) no money on design work, (ii) £23,758 on public consultation and inquiries, and (iii) £778,570 which includes consultancy fees relating to the new visitor centre, the World Heritage Site Management Plan and contributions towards the cost of the A303 improvement scheme at Stonehenge.
My Department and its predecessor Departments have not incurred any directly attributable costs in connection with Stonehenge. It is not possible meaningfully to apportion the cost of official time spent in respect of consultations and correspondence.
§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what price was paid for the site of the proposed Stonehenge visitors' centre at Countess East; and what price was paid for Countess Farm. [131534]
§ Mr. Alan Howarth[holding answer 24 July 2000]: The site for the new visitor centre at Countess Farm East has not yet been purchased. English Heritage is currently in negotiations with the owners so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage. Countess Farm West was purchased by the National Trust and no public money was involved.