DCMS does not hold data on the number of visitors to sites owned by Historic England. The National Heritage Collection, operated by English Heritage Trust, comprises more than 400 historic sites and monuments, and the majority of these are free to enter. As some of these sites are not staffed on a day-to-day basis, English Heritage are unable to collect complete data on visitors to these sites by age group.

Further details on the Places of Worship Renewal Fund specific criteria, application process and funding allocation will be announced in due course, along with details on monitoring and evaluation.

• In 2016/17, no funding was given to local authorities within the West Midlands.

• In 2017/18, a regional grant of £105,582 was given to Birmingham Local Authority.

• In 2018/19, a regional grant of £272,311 was given to Birmingham Local Authority.

• In 2019/20, 2 regional grants: £272,311 given to Birmingham Local Authority and £6,326 given to Coventry Local Authority.

• In 2020/21, 4 grants were administered. 2 regional grants: £166,904 given to Birmingham Local Authority and £165,609 given to Coventry Local Authority. 2 High Street Heritage Action Zones grants were given: £24,111 to Dudley Local Authority and £18,489 given to Sandwell Local Authority.

• In 2021/22, 5 grants were administered. 2 regional grants: £310,829 given to Birmingham Local Authority and £55,760 given to Dudley Local Authority. A Covid-19 Recovery Fund grant of £100,000 was given to Birmingham Local Authority. 2 High Street Heritage Action Zones grants were given: £607,858 to Dudley Local Authority and £563,849 to Sandwell Local Authority.

• In 2022/23, 4 grants were administered. 2 regional grants: £20,034 given to Birmingham Local Authority and £9,840 to Dudley Local Authority. 2 High Street Heritage Action Zones grants given: £467,760 to Dudley Local Authority and £441,569 to Sandwell Local Authority.

• In 2023/24, 5 grants were administered. 2 regional grants: £7,180 given to Coventry Local Authority and £55,240 to Sandwell Local Authority. 3 High Street Heritage Action Zones grants were given: £534,000 to Coventry Local Authority, £942,271 to Dudley Local Authority, and £582,332 to Sandwell Local Authority.

• In 2024/25, 2 regional grants: £177,302 to Coventry Local Authority and £67,708 to Sandwell Local Authority.

• In 2025/26, 2 grants were administered. One regional grant of £50,150 was given to Coventry Local Authority. One Heritage at Risk Capital Fund grant of £200,000 was given to Sandwell Local Authority.

DCMS funding allocation is given to Historic England, it is then an operational decision for them how much funding is allocated to each region. Historic England have confirmed that, for 2025/26 the Midlands region operation budget is £2,507,700. The funding allocation for 26/27 is not yet determined.

The Secretary of State is required to consult Historic England before deciding whether to designate a listed building. Decisions are informed by advice from Historic England and relevant representations from other interested parties, including the Twentieth Century Society, then made in accordance with the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 and the Secretary of State’s Principles of Selection for Listed Buildings (2018). The Department takes decisions on whether or not to list based on the criteria of special architectural or historic interest.

The reasoning behind the decisions in cases where there is a departure from Historic England's recommendation is detailed in decision letters to Historic England. That reasoning is then shared by Historic England alongside their notifications to interested parties of the decisions made.

The average full time equivalent staff number employed by Historic England in (1) 2015/16 was 878, (2) 2019/20 was 828 and (3) 2024/25 was 982.

DCMS and Historic England, as our statutory advisers on heritage, regularly discuss sites and places we know to be interested in UNESCO World Heritage status, and have previously met and written to representatives from UK Cluniac sites.

With the large number of UK World Heritage Sites and our commitment to supporting UNESCO’s ambition for a more globally balanced and representative World Heritage List, the UK Government does not currently have plans to consider additional sites for nomination to UNESCO, beyond those already included on the UK’s Tentative List.

No recent formal assessments have been made by Historic England of sites for inclusion on the UK’s Tentative List. Applications to the 2022/23 Tentative List Review were assessed by an independent expert panel and the Government response was published in July 2023.

Under the previously announced Cabinet Office Arm’s Length Bodies review, Government is considering how to ensure all its public bodies, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England, are as efficient and effective as possible and where we can bring certain functions under closer ministerial scrutiny to deliver better outcomes for communities and the places they live in. This initiative aligns with the Government's wider strategy to foster a more productive and agile public sector and has involved wide ranging discussions on a number of areas. If there are implications for the devolved nations on this, the department will reach out to them for discussions.

The Executive Summary of the State of Conservation Report is published on UNESCO’s website: https://whc.unesco.org/document/218772. There are no plans to publish the full State of Conservation Report at the current time.

Historic England’s advice is published on Tower Hamlets’ planning website: https://development.towerhamlets.gov.uk/online-applications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=documents&keyVal=DCAPR_145208

DCMS officials have held discussions with Historic England on proposals for a Chinese Embassy in Tower Hamlets limited to the State of Conservation Report submitted in November 2024 and the inclusion of Historic England's advice to the Public Inquiry and Planning Inspectorate in the paragraph 172 notification submitted in February 2025.

The Department for Transport has not received any representations from Historic England around the redevelopment proposals for Liverpool Street station. However, I understand that Network Rail have closely consulted with Historic England in the development of their updated proposals. Whilst Historic England had significant concerns about the original plans, I am now reassured that the revised proposals have substantially addressed those concerns. Plans are at an early stage and will continue to liaise with relevant stakeholders as the project develops.