Industrial Monuments

Oral Answers to Questions — Public Building and Works – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 21 November 1966.

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Photo of Mr John Smith Mr John Smith , Cities of London and Westminster 12:00, 21 November 1966

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress he is making with the listing of industrial monuments.

Photo of Mr James Boyden Mr James Boyden , Bishop Auckland

Thirty industrial monuments have been scheduled an ancient monuments and some others are being scheduled. A considerable amount of preliminary work has been done towards establishing which monuments are worth preserving.

Photo of Mr John Smith Mr John Smith , Cities of London and Westminster

Could the Minister hasten this, because not only do these monuments vanish very rapidly owing to the value of the sites they occupy but they have a great educational value? Apart from anything else, they are part of the history of the trade union movement.

Photo of Mr James Boyden Mr James Boyden , Bishop Auckland

I have advocated this both from the back benches and from my present position. One of the keys to this is the good will of industry. We have been discussing this with industry, which is very well disposed towards the general problem. I should be most grateful if the hon. Gentleman used his influence in that direction also.

Photo of Mr Eric Heffer Mr Eric Heffer , Liverpool, Walton

Is my hon. Friend aware that far too many workers are still working in these industrial monuments?

Photo of Mr James Boyden Mr James Boyden , Bishop Auckland

They are not the sort we wish to preserve.

Photo of Mr Anthony Kershaw Mr Anthony Kershaw , Stroud

What about embalming the National Plan and putting that up somewhere?