Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the calls by UNESCO to either amend or not proceed with plans for a road tunnel by Stonehenge.

We have been engaging closely with UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre regarding the proposed A303 scheme, and I attended the World Heritage Committee meeting earlier this month where it was considered.

The A303 scheme aims to improve the experience for visitors to Stonehenge and to preserve this important historic site for future generations. The proposed tunnel – which is supported by Historic England, English Heritage and the National Trust, in addition to Wiltshire Council’s Archaeology Service – will reunite and restore tranquillity to this world-renowned landscape by removing the vast majority of the modern road from view. This will significantly improve the area around the World Heritage Site and ensure that it continues to fulfil UNESCO's Outstanding Universal Value criteria.