§ Ms CoffeyTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when he expects to receive English Heritage's report on heritage policies; and what issues he expects to see covered. [123373]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthI wrote to the Chairman of English Heritage on 17 May on behalf of myself and my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Planning, agreeing that the submission to Government of English Heritage's report on the review that it is leading of 283W policies on the historic environment can be put back by two months to 30 November 2000. This extension acknowledges the view which has been expressed in some quarters that English Heritage requires more time to prepare public discussion papers, analyse the responses to those papers and work up its final report. The Government now intends to issue its own statement on the historic environment by mid March 2001. In addition to setting out a strategy and action programme for the immediate future, I have agreed that this first part of the review being conducted by English Heritage should extend to considering how relevant policies might be developed over the longer term. I am laying copies of my letter in the Libraries of the House.