Much of Dorset is blessed with solid-wall, thatched cottages—you must visit, Mr Speaker. That includes our National Trust village of Shapwick, where Slate cottage sat empty for two years because it would cost £100,000 to bring it up to the minimum energy efficiency standards, and the National Trust just could not do it. It has now sold the cottage, which is a real loss to the community. What will the Minister do to help landlords such as the National Trust to resolve this problem?

Much of Dorset is blessed with solid-wall, thatched cottages—you must visit, Mr Speaker. That includes our National Trust village of Shapwick, where Slate cottage sat empty for two years because it would cost £100,000 to bring it up to the minimum energy efficiency standards, and the National Trust just could not do it. It has now sold the cottage, which is a real loss to the community. What will the Minister do to help landlords such as the National Trust to resolve this problem?

We are working closely with heritage organisations to tackle precisely that problem. The hon. Lady will see in the warm homes plan that there is specific advise about retrofitting historic buildings. [Interruption.] Although they are not in her constituency, I will be visiting some projects soon.

We are working closely with heritage organisations to tackle precisely that problem. The hon. Lady will see in the warm homes plan that there is specific advise about retrofitting historic buildings. [Interruption.] Although they are not in her constituency, I will be visiting some projects soon.

Wordsworth House and Garden

The petition of residents of the constituency of Penrith and Solway,

Declares that Wordsworth House and Garden, a Grade 1 listed national treasure, birthplace of poet William Wordsworth, is vital to our national heritage, education and local economy and its potential closure would be an incalculable loss, robbing...

Wordsworth House and Garden

The petition of residents of the constituency of Penrith and Solway,

Declares that Wordsworth House and Garden, a Grade 1 listed national treasure, birthplace of poet William Wordsworth, is vital to our national heritage, education and local economy and its potential closure would be an incalculable loss, robbing...

Wordsworth House and Garden

Many years ago, the community in Cockermouth saved Wordsworth House from demolition when plans were proposed to build a bus station, and the birthplace of William Wordsworth now stands as a historic gem on Cockermouth’s main street. Over the summer, following concerns about its future, I launched...

Wordsworth House and Garden

Many years ago, the community in Cockermouth saved Wordsworth House from demolition when plans were proposed to build a bus station, and the birthplace of William Wordsworth now stands as a historic gem on Cockermouth’s main street. Over the summer, following concerns about its future, I launched...

Many years ago, the community in Cockermouth saved Wordsworth House from demolition when plans were proposed to build a bus station, and the birthplace of William Wordsworth now stands as a historic gem on Cockermouth’s main street. Over the summer, following concerns about its future, I launched a similarly worded...

Many years ago, the community in Cockermouth saved Wordsworth House from demolition when plans were proposed to build a bus station, and the birthplace of William Wordsworth now stands as a historic gem on Cockermouth’s main street. Over the summer, following concerns about its future, I launched a similarly worded...

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether land that is (a) owned by the National Trust and (b) a Site of Specific Scientific Interest requires Secretary of State approval before implementing proactive fire prevention methods.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether land that is (a) owned by the National Trust and (b) a Site of Specific Scientific Interest requires Secretary of State approval before implementing proactive fire prevention methods.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the National Trusts Acts to require the National Trust to publish a comprehensive annual statement of the financial benefits it enjoys from tax reliefs and other disbursements from the Exchequer, whether direct or indirect.

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to review the National Trusts Acts to require the National Trust to publish a comprehensive annual statement of the financial benefits it enjoys from tax reliefs and other disbursements from the Exchequer, whether direct or indirect.

In the village of Shapwick in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole, 20% of properties have been lying empty because their owners, Aster housing association and the National Trust, cannot afford to bring them up to standard. National Trust homes are typically solid-wall, thatched, not on mains gas, and listed. What plans are there to support the owners in achieving energy efficiency, so that we can get those properties occupied?

In the village of Shapwick in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole, 20% of properties have been lying empty because their owners, Aster housing association and the National Trust, cannot afford to bring them up to standard. National Trust homes are typically solid-wall, thatched, not on mains gas, and listed. What plans are there to support the owners in achieving energy efficiency, so that we can get those properties occupied?

Let us be frank: the big prize that has eluded past Governments for a long time is a proper plan to upgrade all types of buildings, not just residential properties. The Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Peckham (Miatta Fahnbulleh), and I are working on that closely with colleagues from across Government. It is part of a bigger version of the warm homes plan, which is also about buildings. We will definitely take away the experience that the hon. Lady raises.

Let us be frank: the big prize that has eluded past Governments for a long time is a proper plan to upgrade all types of buildings, not just residential properties. The Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Peckham (Miatta Fahnbulleh), and I are working on that closely with colleagues from across Government. It is part of a bigger version of the warm homes plan, which is also about buildings. We will definitely take away the experience that the hon. Lady raises.

My Lords, I should declare that I am a member of the National Trust, as I expect many other noble Lords are as well. I am sure that noble Lords from across your Lordships’ House will join me in wishing the National Trust well in its 130th year. The Government have no plans to review the National Trust Acts. The National Trust is an independent charity run by its board of trustees who are responsible for the organisation’s governance and are accountable to its members and to the Charity Commission.

My Lords, I should declare that I am a member of the National Trust, as I expect many other noble Lords are as well. I am sure that noble Lords from across your Lordships’ House will join me in wishing the National Trust well in its 130th year. The Government have no plans to review the National Trust Acts. The National Trust is an independent charity run by its board of trustees who are responsible for the organisation’s governance and are accountable to its members and to the Charity Commission.

My Lords, in view of the importance of this famous institution, which has come in for considerable criticism in recent years, would it not be prudent to review the legislation under which it operates? How can an institution function satisfactorily when it has a voting system that effectively bars from office those of whom the current leadership disapprove, when history is distorted by undue emphasis on colonialism and when a great house, Clandon Park, is left in ruins after an insurance payout that should have been used to restore it? National Trust managers profess to see raw beauty in this blackened shell—raw folly and betrayal would be more like it. Are there not some worrying features of the activities of the National Trust today, including its governance, which should trouble us all?

My Lords, in view of the importance of this famous institution, which has come in for considerable criticism in recent years, would it not be prudent to review the legislation under which it operates? How can an institution function satisfactorily when it has a voting system that effectively bars from office those of whom the current leadership disapprove, when history is distorted by undue emphasis on colonialism and when a great house, Clandon Park, is left in ruins after an insurance payout that should have been used to restore it? National Trust managers profess to see raw beauty in this blackened shell—raw folly and betrayal would be more like it. Are there not some worrying features of the activities of the National Trust today, including its governance, which should trouble us all?

I feel quite strongly that the National Trust is a charity, and as a charity, government needs to be really careful of the extent to which we take a view on how a charity that has democratic processes should operate. To note the point that the noble Lord made around the voting system, it is for the trustees of the National Trust to determine the running of elections in line with the charity’s governing document, but I note that the National Trust members voted in 2023 to keep the quick vote system. The noble Lord asked a number of questions, one of which was around Clandon Park. I also note that the trust’s proposals in relation to this historic building reflect in-depth conversations with heritage bodies, architectural specialists, community organisations and local residents, and also with over 75,000 visitors to Clandon since the fire.

I feel quite strongly that the National Trust is a charity, and as a charity, government needs to be really careful of the extent to which we take a view on how a charity that has democratic processes should operate. To note the point that the noble Lord made around the voting system, it is for the trustees of the National Trust to determine the running of elections in line with the charity’s governing document, but I note that the National Trust members voted in 2023 to keep the quick vote system. The noble Lord asked a number of questions, one of which was around Clandon Park. I also note that the trust’s proposals in relation to this historic building reflect in-depth conversations with heritage bodies, architectural specialists, community organisations and local residents, and also with over 75,000 visitors to Clandon since the fire.

My Lords, the National Trust recently announced a bold ambition to return to nature some 250,000 hectares. Given that many of the trust’s holdings consist of unique heritage farmland of the sort immortalised by John Constable and wrestled from nature over centuries, do His Majesty’s Government have any concerns that this rewilding will fall foul of the trust’s statutory purpose to permanently protect places of natural beauty or historic interest for the benefit of the nation?

My Lords, the National Trust recently announced a bold ambition to return to nature some 250,000 hectares. Given that many of the trust’s holdings consist of unique heritage farmland of the sort immortalised by John Constable and wrestled from nature over centuries, do His Majesty’s Government have any concerns that this rewilding will fall foul of the trust’s statutory purpose to permanently protect places of natural beauty or historic interest for the benefit of the nation?

My Lords—

My Lords—

My Lords, criticising some of the trends in the governance of the National Trust is not bashing the institution. I am a proud member of the National Trust; I think that it does excellent work, not least on the south-west coast path, which I walk regularly. However, there has been a trend to ignore a lot of criticism of the National Trust, and we must face it: introducing the quick vote system was an attempt by the National Trust to freeze out legitimate criticism by other members of the trust. There is increasing concern about how it has behaved over Holnicote in Exmoor, where it ignored the wishes of the Acland family, and what it has done about legal trail hunting, which goes beyond any legislation either House has introduced. There are now the issues that my noble friend Lord Lexden raised over Clandon. The Government should be concerned about this huge national institution that touches on all our lives.

My Lords, criticising some of the trends in the governance of the National Trust is not bashing the institution. I am a proud member of the National Trust; I think that it does excellent work, not least on the south-west coast path, which I walk regularly. However, there has been a trend to ignore a lot of criticism of the National Trust, and we must face it: introducing the quick vote system was an attempt by the National Trust to freeze out legitimate criticism by other members of the trust. There is increasing concern about how it has behaved over Holnicote in Exmoor, where it ignored the wishes of the Acland family, and what it has done about legal trail hunting, which goes beyond any legislation either House has introduced. There are now the issues that my noble friend Lord Lexden raised over Clandon. The Government should be concerned about this huge national institution that touches on all our lives.

My Lords—

My Lords—

I think that most of us would agree that the National Trust does a very fine job and has done so over many years. None the less, the noble Lord, Lord Lexden, has a point. It is a huge institution, is one of the largest landowners in the country and is in receipt of huge amounts of public money, not only directly in grants but indirectly through taxpayer reliefs. The time might now be ripe for a review that will look not only at the governance, to which the noble Lord referred, but at the accountability mechanisms, to make sure that the body remains well run.

I think that most of us would agree that the National Trust does a very fine job and has done so over many years. None the less, the noble Lord, Lord Lexden, has a point. It is a huge institution, is one of the largest landowners in the country and is in receipt of huge amounts of public money, not only directly in grants but indirectly through taxpayer reliefs. The time might now be ripe for a review that will look not only at the governance, to which the noble Lord referred, but at the accountability mechanisms, to make sure that the body remains well run.

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the National Trust Acts.

To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they plan to review the National Trust Acts.

The Government are aware that the trust is working with farmers to restore nature, including those who are tenants on National Trust land. The trust will support the network of farmers across the land to be even bigger players in nature recovery and climate resilience while producing good, healthy food and running sustainable businesses. In the Government’s view, the two are not mutually exclusive.

The Government are aware that the trust is working with farmers to restore nature, including those who are tenants on National Trust land. The trust will support the network of farmers across the land to be even bigger players in nature recovery and climate resilience while producing good, healthy food and running sustainable businesses. In the Government’s view, the two are not mutually exclusive.

My Lords, I think it is a shame that the party opposite chose to make what is a success story of 130 years part of its culture wars. Can my noble friend the Minister tell us whether the Government have welcomed the new strategy of the National Trust, which includes the goal of equality of access to countryside and beauty?

My Lords, I think it is a shame that the party opposite chose to make what is a success story of 130 years part of its culture wars. Can my noble friend the Minister tell us whether the Government have welcomed the new strategy of the National Trust, which includes the goal of equality of access to countryside and beauty?