GOVERNMENT FAILING HERITAGE

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 23rd Oct 2006

Commenting on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee report released today which highlights a "serious funding shortfall" for English Heritage and "miniscule" support for cathedrals, Paul Holmes MP, Liberal Democrat Shadow Minister for Arts and Heritage said:

"This report is another indictment of the Government's neglect of our culture and heritage.

"Budget cuts have damaged not just our historic buildings, towns and landscapes but also museums and galleries. For example, the V & A has seen its acquisitions fund slashed to one-eighth of the level it received in the 1980s - and other museums and galleries have also been hit..

"Government have also dodged crucial decisions essential to improving heritage sites and attracting tourists like building a tunnel to remove the A303 from crossing the site of Stonehenge.

"The Government is doing far too little to tackle this decline and the £18 billion tourism deficit which in part stems from DCMS failure to adequately exploit the fantastic potential of the UK's diverse and rich heritage."