§ Ross CranstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on implementing the recommendations contained in the Government's statement on the historic environment: A Force for Our Future. [73437]
§ Dr. HowellsSince A Force for Our Future was published in December 2001 the following has been achieved:
December
The Listed Places of Worship Grant scheme was launched.
March
Paradise Preserved, a guide to local authorities and cemetery managers on the care of the built and natural history of cemeteries was published.
April
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment put in place arrangements for providing advice on all post-war listing proposals.
May
The Heritage Lottery Fund's Strategic Plan for 2002–07, agreed with the DCMS, DEFRA and then DTLR was published. Entitled Broadening the Horizons of Heritage it sets out proposals, among other things, to ensure that everyone can learn about, have access to and enjoy their heritage.
1161WThe Quinquennial Review of English Heritage was completed with the full involvement of the DTLR (now OPDM), DEFRA, HMT and DTES. English Heritage are taking forward the recommendations as part of their modernisation programme;
The review of PPG 15 'Planning and the Historic Environment' and PPG 16 'Archaeology and Planning' commenced with full involvement from the sector.
Heritage Link, an umbrella organisation for the voluntary organisations working in the sector was established. It will be formally launched in December.
The Construction Industry Training Board set up a heritage working group with full participation of the Building Skills Action Group and English Heritage to coordinate the promotion of heritage skills. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund are promoting training in conservation craft skills by making it a requirement that all projects over £1 million produce a Training Plan, and by supporting training, including Modern Apprenticeships, as part of wider projects. HLF also support stand-alone projects for training volunteers in heritage skills.
June
The consultation document People and Places: a draft social inclusion policy for the built and historic environment, was launched by the Secretary of State, during Architecture Week.
July The National Heritage Act 2002 Act came into force. This allows English Heritage to operate in overseas countries and to become involved in underwater archaeology in territorial waters adjacent to England. A Statutory Instrument specifying the boundaries of English territorial waters is being drafted in consultation with he Devolved Administrations and other relevant bodies.
The Statutory Order extending the definition of Treasure was laid before Parliament in July. It comes into force in January 2003 subject to its successful passage through both Houses.
English Heritage hosted a workshop with key players in the sector to consider how to take forward the consultation on how to broaden access to the historic environment. This was informed by the National Trust leaflet "Making History Matter".
English Heritage published a consultation document Making the Most of our Civic Heritage—sonic guiding principles for decision makers—at the Local Government Association Conference in June.
Sustainable Communities: Delivering through Planning, sets out the Government's plans for transforming the planning system.
DEFRA have agreed that English Heritage become a distributor for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund, alongside the Countryside Agency and English Nature. Together they will disburse over £30 million to mitigate the impact of aggregates extraction.
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has distributed Our Street: Learning to See and From One Street to Another to every school in the UK.
1162WThis is only the beginning of the process. We and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister are working closely with the sector to take this forward. We will publish a full progress report in December.