Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 2 November 2022 (HL2728), what was the basis of the advice to the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) that “61 archaeological sites, including a substantial part of the Stonehenge Avenue, [were] all under extreme risk of loss due to ploughing”, and that "if the purchase did not go ahead Scheduled Monuments on the site would be lost completely within 10 years”.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
As part of the application process for grant funding to the National Heritage Memorial Fund, the National Trust provided a condition survey which highlighted, among the 61 at-risk archaeological sites, that 15 scheduled monuments and 34 unscheduled monuments across both parcels of land were at imminent risk of loss. These included the Stonehenge Avenue, Conebury Henge, the Conebury Anomaly, Neolithic burials and occupation sites, and numerous Bronze Age round barrows. The report concluded that, unless arable cultivation ceased, it was likely that much, if not all, of what remained of these monuments could have been lost to the plough within a decade.
In assessing the application, the National Heritage Memorial Fund sought expert advice, which concluded that, if these important sites remained under arable cultivation, they would continue to be at risk and subject to denudation and ultimately loss, as there was no alternative strategy that could be readily agreed to secure the survival of these sites and features.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 December (HL4099 and HL4100), what assessment they have made of the proposed A303 road widening scheme on the archaeological sites in the area, particularly the remains of an early Neolithic settlement within the land known as Bow Tie Field; and whether the proposed road tunnels as part of that scheme would have an adverse impact on the integrity of The Avenue.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
National Highways conducted a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment in line with relevant guidance at the time that the Development Consent Order application was made, and this was considered to represent a thorough process by the delegates of the most recent UNESCO Advisory Mission. The Heritage Impact Assessment made an assessment of the proposed A303 scheme on all the known archaeological sites in Bow Tie field, whether they were designated (i.e. scheduled monuments including Stonehenge, the Avenue, and three barrows adjacent to the Avenue forming part of a round barrow cemetery on Countess Farm: NHLE 1010140) or non-designated, and assessed the effect of the proposals on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites World Heritage Site. The answer to the parliamentary question submitted on 20 December 2022 contains further information, including about archaeological evaluation carried out to date.
The Avenue is protected as part of a Scheduled Monument. The A303 scheme has been designed not to have a direct impact on any Scheduled Monuments and to minimise adverse impacts on their setting. National Highways will work with the National Trust to minimise the impact to heritage (such as the archaeology and grassland) at Bow Tie Field which may be affected by future compulsory acquisition as part of implementation of the proposed A303 scheme. The scheme is currently with the Secretary of State for Transport for re-determination. Since this is a live planning application, the Department cannot comment further.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 20 December (HL4099 and HL4100), whether the grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund was for both (1) the buy out of the leasehold interest of the 151 acres of land already owned by the Trust in area, and (2) the purchase of the 21.6 acres of land known as Bow Tie Field; and if so, why the grant for purchase of Bow Tie Field was considered necessary to deliver the positive impact of the grant.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The National Trust negotiated to acquire the leasehold interest of an Agricultural Holdings Act tenancy of 151 hectares over land that the National Trust already owned, and a further 21 hectares of outright acquisition of freehold land known as Bow Tie Field. The National Heritage Memorial Fund grant was awarded to the National Trust to secure both areas of land.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund recognised the positive impact of supporting the acquisition of this significant area of land containing internationally and nationally important ancient monuments which were at risk. The benefits of the National Trust taking ownership and management of this land, safeguarding nationally important monuments, was considered to justify the grant award.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the compatibility of using a substantial part of Bow Tie field for road and tunnelling purposes with the (1) protection of archaeology, and (2) grassland restoration, as specified in the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) grant to the National Trust for that purpose.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The National Heritage Memorial Fund’s grant to the National Trust was awarded to safeguard and protect a significant number of archaeological sites and monuments, and to enable extensive grassland restoration of approximately 168 hectares of land. It was clear at the time of the award that, if the A303 Amesbury to Berwick Down scheme were to be consented to by the Secretary of State, approximately 4.54 hectares of land within Bow Tie Field would be subject to compulsory acquisition by National Highways. However, the positive impact of the grant benefits a much larger area of land containing internationally important monuments which were at risk. As a result of the National Trust taking ownership and management of this land all of these monuments have been safeguarded from destruction and, should the A303 scheme proceed, would remain unaffected.
National Highways will work with the National Trust to minimise impact to heritage (the archaeology and grassland) at Bow Tie Field which may be affected by future compulsory acquisition as part of implementation of the scheme. The scheme is currently with the Secretary of State for Transport for re-determination.
A comprehensive archaeological assessment has been undertaken on all areas affected by the scheme, including part of Bow Tie Field. An overview of the fieldwork can be found in Section 3 (from page 13) of the Detailed Archaeological Mitigation Strategy and further details of Eastern portal from 3.3.80 (page 28), which can be viewed here.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay on 2 November (HL2760 and HL2728), whether the trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund considered the possibility of the land being compulsorily acquired by National Highways as part of the A303 scheme, prior to the award of the grant.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
It was clear at the time of the grant award that, should the Development Consent Order be approved by the Secretary of State for Transport, approximately 4.54 hectares of the total 168 hectare area to be acquired would be the subject of permanent compulsory acquisition by National Highways. The National Heritage Memorial Fund’s grant was in response to a time-limited opportunity to secure multiple archaeological sites across this much larger area of land in the World Heritage Site. This included a substantial portion of Stonehenge Avenue. Without the National Heritage Memorial Fund’s grant the opportunity to safeguard and conserve a significant area of internationally important archaeology would have been lost.
The National Heritage Memorial Fund Board was aware of the potential for compulsory purchase and took the decision that, since the area to be affected by potential compulsory purchase was a very small proportion of the overall site, this did not outweigh the benefits of safeguarding a much larger area through the time-limited opportunity presented.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when the National Heritage Memorial Fund grant of £800,000 was awarded to the National Trust for ensuring the protection of archaeology at Stonehenge; and when the grant was paid to the National Trust.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The board of the National Heritage Memorial Fund supported the National Trust’s application for a £800,000 grant for the acquisition of 168 hectares of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field, at its meeting in February 2020. The grant was paid to the National Trust in two tranches, in September 2020 and March 2021.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what were the terms of the National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) grant of £800,000 to the National Trust for the acquisition of over 170 hectares of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field.
Answered by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) has been awarding grants to safeguard the UK’s most important heritage since 1980. As a fund of last resort, NHMF has helped save thousands of the country’s most-loved treasures from being lost forever.
The grant of £800,000 to the National Trust for the acquisition of land at Stonehenge, including the land known as Bow Tie Field, was a time-limited opportunity to secure 168 hectares of land containing 61 archaeological sites, including a substantial part of the Stonehenge Avenue, all under extreme risk of loss due to ploughing. Expert advice to NHMF reflected that if the purchase did not go ahead Scheduled Monuments on the site would be lost completely within 10 years.
The acquisition by the National Trust will enable the restoration of chalk grassland, a priority lowland habitat, achieving significant biodiversity and nature conservation benefits. It will also enable permissive open access for the first time to this part of the Stonehenge landscape.
The £800,000 grant was awarded to the National Trust using the National Heritage Memorial Fund's standard terms of grant as set out on the NHMF's website.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to promote volunteering opportunities in the UK after 31 December for young people from EU countries.
Answered by Baroness Barran - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) offers volunteering opportunities to young people aged 18-30 from both the UK and the European Union. The UK will continue to participate fully in the current (2018-2020) ESC programme. This means that projects that successfully bid for funding during the current programme will continue to receive EU funding for the full duration of the project, including those where funding runs beyond 31 December 2020 and the end of the transition period. Young people from the UK and EU countries will continue to be able to participate in these projects.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is considering options for alternatives to EU programmes offering international opportunities to young people. Funding for these opportunities will be subject to the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to enact primary legislation ensuring that UK World Heritage Sites receive statutory protection from inappropriate planning consents.
Answered by Lord Ashton of Hyde
Where appropriate UK World Heritage sites are afforded statutory protection through designation of specific assets through existing legislation. Other aspects of World Heritage Sites are key material considerations in the determination of planning applications.
Asked by: Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb (Green Party - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend fully to honour Article 4 of the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World’s Heritage in respect of any future A303 dualling scheme at Stonehenge; and if not, whether they intend to withdraw as a signatory to the World Heritage Convention.
Answered by Baroness Neville-Rolfe - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
This Government will continue to honour its obligations under article 4 of the World Heritage Convention regarding the Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site. We are committed to working with UNESCO and its advisory bodies to ensure that the Outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site is taken into consideration in any forthcoming road scheme. We will be closely monitoring the development of any such scheme as it progresses.