10.03.2014
The future management of Scotland’s historic environment and how it should be championed is to be considered by the Scottish Parliament’s Education and Culture Committee.
The Historic Environment Scotland Bill will create a new body, Historic Environment Scotland, to take over from Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. The new body will care for and promote all of Scotland’s historic environment.
Committee Convener, Stewart Maxwell MSP, said:
“Scotland’s historic environment plays an important part in all our lives. It provides a link to the past and helps shape our cultural identity. Therefore, it is crucial that we ensure that it is managed, promoted and preserved for the generations to come.
“The Committee wants to know if the proposals before us are the best way of ensuring that our historic environment is preserved. We want to hear from people across Scotland about the new body’s ambitions and whether these are bold enough to ensure that everyone can enjoy our great historical and cultural assets.”
The Committee would like to hear from all those with an interest in the Bill and the newly published historic environment strategy, which also seeks to improve understanding and enjoyment of Scotland’s historic environment.
Other questions which the Committee will explore include:
- How will the creation of Historic Environment Scotland help to improve the overall management and promotion of Scotland’s historic environment?
- Will the Bill help to make Scotland’s historic environment more attractive to communities, families and tourists?
- Does the Bill establish a clear and appropriate relationship between Historic Environment Scotland and all other public and private bodies with an interest in Scotland’s historic environment
Background
The Bill was introduced on 3 March 2014 and seeks to establish a new lead body for Scotland’s historic environment. The Bill was published alongside Scotland’s first historic environment strategy.
The closing date for submissions is Tuesday 22 April 2014. More information can be found on the Committee’s webpages:
Education and Culture Committee