To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now publish guidance on archaeology and development.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has issued today, for public consultation, draft guidance aimed at providing local planning authorities in England, developers, archaeologists, amenity societies, property owners and the general public with advice on Government policy on ancient monuments and archaeological sites and on the handling of archaeological remains and discoveries in the planning process. Its key message is that developers and local planning authorities should discuss outline development proposals at an early stage so that the needs of archaeology and development can be reconciled. A copy of the consultation paper has been placed in the Library.