Quote:quote:Lib Dems and Conservatives continue to press for the Heritage Protection Bill. A parliamentary question (PQ) by Lib Dem Richard Younger-Ross on 8 June chased a date for the new Planning Policy Statement on the historic environment. Minister for Culture Barbara Follett assured him that a draft would be published this summer with a view to it coming into force early next year, but the PQ prompted further demands for the Heritage Protection Bill. ?There was a whole swathe of legislation that we were told would be brought in because we did not need primary legislation, such as reform to the Shimizu judgment, the heritage partnership agreement, the guidance for investment and promotion of Historic Environment Records and improved protection for world heritage sites. When will these matters be dealt with?? persisted Mr Younger Ross. Mrs Follett assured him that she was working with heritage groups to address these matters and ?would copy him into the work we are doing?. Heritage Link is enquiring exactly what this might be.

Sir Patrick Cormack joined in, commenting that there was now plenty of parliamentary time to bring in the Heritage Bill. Ed Vaizey, Conservative Shadow Secretary also took the Minister to task over the ?100 million the Government had cut from the heritage budget over the past 10 years. He hoped she would ask the new Secretary of State to speak to the Prime Minister ?so that we can bring forward a heritage protection bill that has the support of all parties in this House?.

The Government?s Vision Statement, it was also confirmed by new Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw in a written answer on 12 June would be published ?in the summer?.