§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if English Heritage's Grant Aid Budget for privately-owned Grade I and II⋆ listed buildings will remain unchanged in the current year; and what plans it has to alter the balance of funding between such buildings and those owned by English Heritage. [161042]
§ Mr. Alan HowarthEnglish Heritage's (EH) Strategic Plan indicates that they currently plan to offer £12.3 million in Grant Aid to privately owned Grade I and II⋆ listed buildings in this financial year, and the same amount in each of the next two years ie 2002–03 and 2003–04 respectively.
The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) has had an adverse impact on revenue from EH's historic properties and sites that are open to the public. Consequently, all aspects of the organisation's 2001–02 budget are currently under review. It is too early to predict the full impact of FMD on EH and firm decisions about budget allocations have yet to be taken. It is for EH to decide on grant allocations within the resources available to them.