Asked by: Jonathan Djanogly (Conservative - Huntingdon)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 11 September 2018 to Question 169126 on A14: road works, what estimate he has made of the delay to work on that road as a result of the archaeological work; and what estimate he has made of the cost of that delay.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
The A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon scheme is on budget and on target to open to traffic by 2020/21 as planned.
Highways England have encountered some challenges with the archaeology work schedule, but they have been able to work flexibly to ensure there has not been an impact on the construction programme. Highways England confirm this will not have an impact on the overall scheme budget and will be able to publish final costs once the scheme has completed.
Asked by: Michael Fallon (Conservative - Sevenoaks)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect on the prehistoric landscape at Stonehenge of the proposals for a new flyover and tunnel.
Answered by Jesse Norman - Shadow Leader of the House of Commons
A principal aim of the scheme is to remove the roads and heavy traffic, with their associated noise and disturbance from the vicinity of the stones and to reunite Stonehenge with its surrounding monuments in their natural chalk downland setting. This involves removing the road and its traffic completely from within sight of the stones, with the locations of the tunnel portals being beyond the visual horizons from Stonehenge.
Highways England is carrying out extensive Heritage Impact Assessments to ensure the scheme brings benefits without creating unacceptable effects on the important features of the World Heritage Site.
A programme of archaeological surveys has been developed with input from an independent Scientific Committee, which comprises some of the country’s most eminent archaeologists. The project also has a Heritage Monitoring and Advisory Group comprising Historic England, Wiltshire Council Archaeology Service, English Heritage and The National Trust. The Scientific Committee and Advisory Group will continue to have oversight of all the archaeological findings as the scheme develops. Further information about the Scientific Committee’s work can be found at: http://www.a303scientificcommittee.org.uk/
Asked by: Lord Berkeley (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much funding they have set aside for HS2 phase one enabling works, design and pre-construction activity; and how much of that funding has already been spent and on what.
Answered by Baroness Sugg
Spending Review 2015 established a long term funding envelope for Phase 1 of £27.18bn in 2015 prices. HS2 Ltd is expected to manage all elements of the delivery of Phase 1 from within the overall funding provision.
In November 2016, HS2 Ltd awarded three Enabling Works Contracts. These are structured as framework contracts, with a total combined value of up to £900m (in 2015 prices). These contractors in place in advance of the main works contracts are delivering a range of activities including archaeology, site clearance, establishing site compounds, utility diversions, ecology surveys, demolition, ground remediation, watercourse activities, highways realignments, monitoring and instrumentation, structural reinforcements and drainage work.
Government spending on HS2 Ltd is detailed in the Department for Transport’s annual report and accounts.
Asked by: Diana Johnson (Labour - Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham)
Question
To ask the right hon. Member for Carshalton and Wallington, representing the House of Commons Commission, which company has been contracted to carry out cleaning work on the ceiling of Westminster Hall; and what archaeological supervision has been provided to supervise that cleaning work.
Answered by Tom Brake
Work is currently underway in Westminster Hall to complete phase three of the conservation programme. This includes: the refurbishment of the lantern; removing the extensive dust deposits from the roof timbers; minor repairs to the interior of the roof to stabilize decorative elements and tracery; fire protection improvements; and new lighting.
The principal contractor for the programme is Mitie, who have in turn subcontracted the refurbishment of the lantern, cleaning of dust deposits and the minor repairs to the heritage and conservation specialists, DBR Limited. The programme of work is supervised by heritage architects Donald Insall Associates.
There is a large body of academic material on the Hall already available, with principal studies conducted between 1854 and 2016. Both information from this, together with extensive condition surveys, have been used as the basis for the specification for the current work and any further survey in this regard would be of no evident value to Parliament. It should be noted that the roof is an example of ‘standing archaeology’ – that is, it will be accessible for the foreseeable future as it has been in the past. The obligation to record the repairs and to deposit the records in the archives will be undertaken by the consultant conservation architect (Donald Insall Associates), specialist conservators, the in-house Architecture & Heritage team and Historic England. This information will be made available to interested parties and therefore no further archaeological supervision is necessary.
I have sent the hon. Lady a copy of the list of references to studies of the roof, and placed a copy in the Library.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many cases under the Treasure Act 1996 have been reported (a) directly to the Coroner in the district in which they were found and (b) to the local Finds Liaison Officer; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The overwhelming majority of finds in England and Wales are reported directly to Finds Liaison Officers, though in a small number of cases they are reported directly to Coroners. The Coroner will normally direct the finder to the Finds Liaison Officer. In Northern Ireland, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme does not apply, finds are reported directly to the Coroner. Only individual Coroner’s officers will hold information on cases directly reported to them.
The Treasure Act, which defines what finds are treasure came into force in 1997, and since then the following finds have been reported as treasure in Wiltshire:
1997 – 6,1998 – 9,1999 – 10, 2000 – 4, 2001 – 7, 2002 – 9, 2003 – 8 (PAS first started in Wiltshire), 2004 – 11, 2005 – 18, 2006 – 18, 2007 – 25, 2008 – 26, 2009 – 20, 2010 – 36, 2011 – 41, 2012 – 35, 2013 – 30, 2014 – 30, 2015 – 35 (source Treasure Annual Report 2015) , 2016 – 46 (source Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2016)
Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began in Wiltshire in 2003 the following finds have been reported in each year.
2003 - 107, 2004 - 1,234, 2005 - 878, 2006 - 1,533, 2007 - 1,555,
2008 - 896, 2009 - 1,213, 2010 - 1,144, 2011 - 1,601, 2012 - 1,769, 2013 - 2,684, 2014 - 3,392, 2015 - 3,913, 2016 - 4,266, 2017 - 2,695
In the last 12 months the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with the following museums and heritage organisations in Wiltshire:
In addition the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with two Wiltshire based archaeology projects, the PAStlands Project and the Teffont Archaeological Project.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many archaeological finds made by the public have been reported to the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wiltshire in each of the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The overwhelming majority of finds in England and Wales are reported directly to Finds Liaison Officers, though in a small number of cases they are reported directly to Coroners. The Coroner will normally direct the finder to the Finds Liaison Officer. In Northern Ireland, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme does not apply, finds are reported directly to the Coroner. Only individual Coroner’s officers will hold information on cases directly reported to them.
The Treasure Act, which defines what finds are treasure came into force in 1997, and since then the following finds have been reported as treasure in Wiltshire:
1997 – 6,1998 – 9,1999 – 10, 2000 – 4, 2001 – 7, 2002 – 9, 2003 – 8 (PAS first started in Wiltshire), 2004 – 11, 2005 – 18, 2006 – 18, 2007 – 25, 2008 – 26, 2009 – 20, 2010 – 36, 2011 – 41, 2012 – 35, 2013 – 30, 2014 – 30, 2015 – 35 (source Treasure Annual Report 2015) , 2016 – 46 (source Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2016)
Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began in Wiltshire in 2003 the following finds have been reported in each year.
2003 - 107, 2004 - 1,234, 2005 - 878, 2006 - 1,533, 2007 - 1,555,
2008 - 896, 2009 - 1,213, 2010 - 1,144, 2011 - 1,601, 2012 - 1,769, 2013 - 2,684, 2014 - 3,392, 2015 - 3,913, 2016 - 4,266, 2017 - 2,695
In the last 12 months the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with the following museums and heritage organisations in Wiltshire:
In addition the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with two Wiltshire based archaeology projects, the PAStlands Project and the Teffont Archaeological Project.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, how many finds have been reported as Treasure under the Treasure Act 1996 in Wiltshire in each of the last 20 years; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The overwhelming majority of finds in England and Wales are reported directly to Finds Liaison Officers, though in a small number of cases they are reported directly to Coroners. The Coroner will normally direct the finder to the Finds Liaison Officer. In Northern Ireland, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme does not apply, finds are reported directly to the Coroner. Only individual Coroner’s officers will hold information on cases directly reported to them.
The Treasure Act, which defines what finds are treasure came into force in 1997, and since then the following finds have been reported as treasure in Wiltshire:
1997 – 6,1998 – 9,1999 – 10, 2000 – 4, 2001 – 7, 2002 – 9, 2003 – 8 (PAS first started in Wiltshire), 2004 – 11, 2005 – 18, 2006 – 18, 2007 – 25, 2008 – 26, 2009 – 20, 2010 – 36, 2011 – 41, 2012 – 35, 2013 – 30, 2014 – 30, 2015 – 35 (source Treasure Annual Report 2015) , 2016 – 46 (source Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2016)
Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began in Wiltshire in 2003 the following finds have been reported in each year.
2003 - 107, 2004 - 1,234, 2005 - 878, 2006 - 1,533, 2007 - 1,555,
2008 - 896, 2009 - 1,213, 2010 - 1,144, 2011 - 1,601, 2012 - 1,769, 2013 - 2,684, 2014 - 3,392, 2015 - 3,913, 2016 - 4,266, 2017 - 2,695
In the last 12 months the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with the following museums and heritage organisations in Wiltshire:
In addition the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with two Wiltshire based archaeology projects, the PAStlands Project and the Teffont Archaeological Project.
Asked by: Tim Loughton (Conservative - East Worthing and Shoreham)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, which (a) museums and (b) heritage organisations in Wiltshire has the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer had discussions with in the last 12 months; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by John Glen
The overwhelming majority of finds in England and Wales are reported directly to Finds Liaison Officers, though in a small number of cases they are reported directly to Coroners. The Coroner will normally direct the finder to the Finds Liaison Officer. In Northern Ireland, where the Portable Antiquities Scheme does not apply, finds are reported directly to the Coroner. Only individual Coroner’s officers will hold information on cases directly reported to them.
The Treasure Act, which defines what finds are treasure came into force in 1997, and since then the following finds have been reported as treasure in Wiltshire:
1997 – 6,1998 – 9,1999 – 10, 2000 – 4, 2001 – 7, 2002 – 9, 2003 – 8 (PAS first started in Wiltshire), 2004 – 11, 2005 – 18, 2006 – 18, 2007 – 25, 2008 – 26, 2009 – 20, 2010 – 36, 2011 – 41, 2012 – 35, 2013 – 30, 2014 – 30, 2015 – 35 (source Treasure Annual Report 2015) , 2016 – 46 (source Portable Antiquities Scheme Annual Report 2016)
Since the Portable Antiquities Scheme began in Wiltshire in 2003 the following finds have been reported in each year.
2003 - 107, 2004 - 1,234, 2005 - 878, 2006 - 1,533, 2007 - 1,555,
2008 - 896, 2009 - 1,213, 2010 - 1,144, 2011 - 1,601, 2012 - 1,769, 2013 - 2,684, 2014 - 3,392, 2015 - 3,913, 2016 - 4,266, 2017 - 2,695
In the last 12 months the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with the following museums and heritage organisations in Wiltshire:
In addition the Wiltshire Finds Liaison Officer has had discussions with two Wiltshire based archaeology projects, the PAStlands Project and the Teffont Archaeological Project.
Asked by: David Drew (Labour (Co-op) - Stroud)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of the archaeological profession on the future of farming policy, particularly with reference to heritage and conservation.
Answered by George Eustice
The Secretary of State recently the Chairman and the CEO of The Heritage Alliance to discuss matters including the future of the rural landscape once we leave the European Union.
This is part of our ongoing commitment to making sure that the views of all interested groups are considered in the development of our new agricultural policy, which will make sure that public money is spent on public goods, supporting our rural areas and the environment.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what support the Government is providing to ensure that historical and church buildings in Mosul are rebuilt.
Answered by Alistair Burt
The UK condemns Daesh's destruction of historical and religious buildings in Iraq, whether they be archaeological sites, churches, mosques or temples.
The UK's Cultural Protection Fund of £30 million is designed to build capacity and capability in conflict zones in order to protect cultural heritage. Over £4 million from the fund has been awarded to Iraq across four projects. £3 million of this has been allocated to the British Museum's Rescue Archaeology Project. This project supplements the skills of a team of Iraqi national heritage sector workers to assess and record the condition of heritage sites and carry out rescue archaeology as a preliminary to reconstruction at sites damaged by Daesh. The first cohort of Iraqi archaeologists completed their training in 2016 and the second cohort completed their training earlier this year in London.
The UK is also funding: the University of Manchester, working with the State Board for Antiquities and Heritage in Iraq, to survey and document the pre-Islamic Alexandrian city of Charax, as well as 14 other sites in Iraq; and the University of Liverpool to record, preserve and promote understanding of Yezidi heritage and identity.