§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the current status of the Stonehenge Master Plan Steering Group; who sits on it; and by whom the members were appointed. [HL3009]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)I chair the Stonehenge Master Plan Steering Group, which directs the implementation of the project to improve the setting of Stonehenge within the world heritage site. The group is made up of representatives of the World Heritage Site Management Plan Implementation Group, English Heritage, the National Trust, English Nature, Wiltshire County Council, Salisbury District Council, Amesbury Town Council, DTLR, the Highways Agency and the Government Office of the South West. Sir Jocelyn Stevens is also a member. The members are appointed by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
§ Lord Marlesfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Kingdom is obliged by the World Heritage Convention to protect and conserve the whole of Stonehenge, Avebury and associated world heritage sites; or whether this protection can be confined to the area nearest to the Stonehenge stones. [HL3011]
§ Baroness BlackstoneThe World Heritage Convention places responsibilities on the Government to ensure the effective protection, conservation and presentation of the 24 world heritage sites in the UK and its overseas territories. Management plans are in place for both the Stonehenge and Avebury parts of that world heritage site. These plans identify and address the key issues affecting the current and future condition of the whole site. Within the framework provided by the relevant management plan, the Government are embarking on an ambitious programme to remove the roads and associated noise and pollution from the immediate vicinity of the stones; reunite the stones with the surrounding monuments; and allow visitors to move freely about the wider landscape and thereby better understand the context of Stonehenge within the world heritage site.