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

To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to preventing the demolition of the Doxford Gate, Pallion Quay, at Sunderland and preserving it as a monument to Sunderland's ship building heritage.

Sunderland has a history as an internationally significant centre for shipbuilding. However, such was the pace of change in the shipbuilding industry that few structures survived. Doxford Gate sits in the path of a new inner ring road which will link the city centre to a new bridge across the River Wear. The site has been considered for statutory protection by listing, but it does not meet the national criteria. It is unfortunate that it appears that the Doxford Gate cannot be preserved, but I am pleased to report that I understand it is intended to re-erect the historic iron gates from the entrance nearby as a memorial to the shipyard.