§ Mr. LuffTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what consideration is being given to 717W designating land on and around the Throckmorton airfield as an ancient monument; and if she will make a statement. [34655]
§ Dr. HowellsUnder the Monuments Protection Programme, this Department and English Heritage are undertaking a systematic review of England's archaeological resource, with a view to providing statutory protection, through scheduling, to those sites identified as being of national importance. Once a site has been scheduled, specific consent has to be obtained from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State before any works can be carried out that could damage the monument.
We are, of course, prepared to look at sites, which are under threat, or of particular significance, out of sequence. I understand that English Heritage is currently considering whether land on and around Throckmorton airfield merits scheduling, following archaeological investigation work undertaken there last year in response to the excavation of foot and mouth mass burial pits. English Heritage will be making recommendations to my Department shortly.