asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what progress he has made in compiling or approving lists of buildings of special architectural or historic interest; and when he expects that this work will be completed.

By 31st May, my right hon. Friend has issued the statutory lists required by Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, for 974 out of the 1,474 local authority areas in England and Wales. A further 257 local authority areas had been partly listed. If the present rate of progress is maintained, the work of survey for listing will take a further five years, and it will be some time thereafter before the issue of the statutory lists is completed.