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War Memorials

I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Cleethorpes (Shona McIsaac) for securing the slot for this debate on an important subject. I am deeply grateful for the way in which she has presented the issue. It is clear from her speech how emotionally involved she has become in this issue and in ensuring, through her useful website, that her constituents learn about the men and women whose names are on the war memorials in their local area. She demonstrates the diversity of war memorials: from plaque to obelisks to more elaborate structures. I believe that her web address is www.shonamcisaac.com and I am sure that many people will want to have a look at the site. War memorials are of course a very special part of our environment; they help us to remember and to celebrate the lives and contributions of those men and women who gave so much to protect the freedoms of our country. They remain a vital and sadly still necessary part of modern life as young men and women continue to do their duties serving at home and in foreign parts. I was particularly struck by my hon. Friend’s reference to the 100th anniversary of the first world war, and I agree that we need to ensure that preparations are in place to honour that memorial in five years’ time. I shall take note of her point so that we can ensure that those preparations are in place. Memorials are also important to the communities in which they are situated and I know that, up and down the country, many people voluntarily ensure that memorials continue to be a fitting tribute by undertaking cleaning and maintenance. I want to offer the Government’s sincere thanks to those who volunteer in this way. The subject of the debate is the protection, conservation and restoration of war memorials and I believe that the Government have a good record in each of these areas. I shall deal with each of them in turn. A useful first step would be to ensure that we know about the nation’s stock of war memorials. I note of course the contents of my hon. Friend’s early-day motion 1829, which calls for a national record of—and enhanced protection from developers—for war memorials. I have noted also the content of early-day motion 2070, and I echo her support for the work of the groups that she mentioned. On the subject of a national register, I am pleased to report that we already have one in operation. The United Kingdom national inventory of war memorials started in 1989 and was initially a joint project between the Imperial War museum and the Royal Commission on the Historic Monuments of England, which is now part of English Heritage. The inventory continues to be supported by the Imperial War museum, which is in turn supported by my Department. I take the point about the two members of staff and we will have a look at what can be done to ensure that, in addition to the volunteers, we can ensure that we are adequately resourced. I pay tribute to the two hon. Members who intervened on my hon. Friend—the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) and my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Stephen Pound)—for their contributions and for ensuring that we keep this important issue in our minds, especially at this time. The aim of the inventory is eventually to have the story of each memorial in the country—its building, its unveiling and its significance to community life—within its archive. The inventory is a work in progress, and anyone who keeps records of memorials could help by sharing any information that they have. As time goes on and the information becomes more complete, perhaps the inventory can consider whether there is a role it could usefully fulfil in showing us where protection might be lacking. Although the inventory is staffed by the Imperial War museum, I and those who work on are very grateful for the work of large numbers of volunteer recorders and photographers. The inventory would be very grateful for any further offers of help with administration, fieldwork or research in addition to the support of the Royal British Legion. Let me move on to the issue of protection. We have heard calls for enhanced protection for war memorials. Protection of war memorials is based on their status as listed buildings, parts of listed buildings and scheduled ancient monuments, or on their situation in conservation areas, and there are already a range of powers at the disposal of Government, its agencies, and local authorities, to ensure that such memorials are well cared for. Again, I am aware that I have not mentioned some of the possibilities, and I undertake to help my hon. Friend to ensure that the ones that she mentioned are included. Any works to memorials that are listed, scheduled or in a conservation area will require the appropriate consents from the local authority or the Secretary of State, to ensure that they are in the best interests of the preservation of the memorial and its setting. Where a memorial is situated in a listed building, consents will be required from the local authority for any changes or for removal. Where proper steps are not being taken for the preservation of a listed memorial, a local authority has the power to undertake any repairs considered necessary, and it can then seek repayment from the owners for the cost of those repairs. Ultimately, a local authority could compulsorily purchase a listed memorial to ensure its proper care and maintenance, and English Heritage is also able to exercise those powers in London. The Secretary of State also has reserve powers in this area but, thankfully, they are seldom needed or used. In respect of any memorial, listed or not, the War Memorials (Local Authorities’ Powers) Act 1923 allows local authorities to carry out works, whether or not the memorial is in their ownership. We consider that war memorials situated inside a listed church building of a major denomination—and there are many memorials within Church of England churches—are best cared for by the relevant denomination. The biggest denominations have their own stringent systems of care under the ecclesiastical exemption, and they provide excellent care for listed churches and their contents.