The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee has blasted the lack of provision for local authorities in its report on the draft Heritage Protection Bill.
The committee's chairman, John Whittingdale, said: "The government has said it will give local authorities the resources they need to carry out the provisions of the bill, but the government's estimate of what is needed is considerably below everyone else's.
"The current government estimate is £1.72m, while the Country Land and Business Association (CLBA) is estimating between £50m and £100m. We are talking about a vast difference." The bill aims to simplify heritage protection systems in England.
Margaret Hodge, the culture minister, said in her response to the committee that she thought the streamlining of processes brought about by the bill would make it "pretty cost neutral".
However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), alongside English Heritage and several other sector bodies, is reviewing the estimate. Hodge told the committee that the government would meet whatever figure came out of the review.
Peter Beecham, heritage protection director at English Heritage, said the reviewed amount would be more realistic, but he didn't expect it to be a lot more than the current estimate. Making an accurate assessment had been "a bit of a struggle", he added, as until recently, the draft bill had still been incomplete.
But Jonathan Thompson, heritage adviser at the CLBA, was not convinced the review would provide the money that the sector needed. "Many of the supposed benefits of the bill, like new management plans for conservation areas, can't happen without additional funding, which is almost certainly not going to be provided," he said.
Submissions to the committee also suggested that a shortage of conservation officers within local authorities would be an issue in future years, something that both the DCMS and English Heritage dispute.
Beecham said: "When you look at the world post 2010 [when it is hoped the bill will come into force], there will not be, of necessity, archaeological and conservation officers, just staff dealing with the historic environment. How that cut is made is up for debate, but the world will change fundamentally."
The committee's chairman, John Whittingdale, said: "The government has said it will give local authorities the resources they need to carry out the provisions of the bill, but the government's estimate of what is needed is considerably below everyone else's.
"The current government estimate is £1.72m, while the Country Land and Business Association (CLBA) is estimating between £50m and £100m. We are talking about a vast difference." The bill aims to simplify heritage protection systems in England.
Margaret Hodge, the culture minister, said in her response to the committee that she thought the streamlining of processes brought about by the bill would make it "pretty cost neutral".
However, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), alongside English Heritage and several other sector bodies, is reviewing the estimate. Hodge told the committee that the government would meet whatever figure came out of the review.
Peter Beecham, heritage protection director at English Heritage, said the reviewed amount would be more realistic, but he didn't expect it to be a lot more than the current estimate. Making an accurate assessment had been "a bit of a struggle", he added, as until recently, the draft bill had still been incomplete.
But Jonathan Thompson, heritage adviser at the CLBA, was not convinced the review would provide the money that the sector needed. "Many of the supposed benefits of the bill, like new management plans for conservation areas, can't happen without additional funding, which is almost certainly not going to be provided," he said.
Submissions to the committee also suggested that a shortage of conservation officers within local authorities would be an issue in future years, something that both the DCMS and English Heritage dispute.
Beecham said: "When you look at the world post 2010 [when it is hoped the bill will come into force], there will not be, of necessity, archaeological and conservation officers, just staff dealing with the historic environment. How that cut is made is up for debate, but the world will change fundamentally."
What the committee said
The minister's claim that the bill will be "pretty cost neutral" is not borne out by the evidence that we received from those who will ultimately implement it.
The decision taken by the DCMS among others to review the current cost estimate casts further doubt on this claim.
The government should proceed with the bill, but only if it is fully aware of, and willing to meet, its full cost.
The minister's claim that the bill will be "pretty cost neutral" is not borne out by the evidence that we received from those who will ultimately implement it.
The decision taken by the DCMS among others to review the current cost estimate casts further doubt on this claim.
The government should proceed with the bill, but only if it is fully aware of, and willing to meet, its full cost.
