World Heritage Sites

Bob Russell
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many applications for locations in England to become World Heritage Sites are outstanding; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge
[holding answer 2 November 2009]: The UK Tentative List, published in 1999, identified 25 sites for potential nomination for World Heritage status, 15 of which are located in England. Six English sites have since been inscribed on the World Heritage List. One English site, Darwin’s Landscape Laboratory, was submitted to UNESCO in 2009 and will be considered by the World Heritage Committee at its annual meeting in 2010.

The Government are currently reviewing its World Heritage policy including making nominations in the future and expects to make an announcement later this autumn.