Question reference: S6W-06606
- Asked by: Craig Hoy, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 15 February 2022
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Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it has provided to Historic Environment Scotland to enable Tantallon Castle, Dirleton Castle, Seton Collegiate Church and Hailes Castle, in East Lothian, to reopen.
Answer
The Scottish Government provides Historic Environment Scotland with considerable funding: a total of £72.9m in 2020-21 and £75.9m in 2021-22. Historic Environment Scotland is responding to the safety concerns identified at the properties in care using its existing resources of both Government funding and other income.
I can confirm that while there is restricted access at these specific sites in East Lothian, there is still public access available to the grounds of Tantallon Castle, and to the grounds, exhibition and shop of Dirleton Castle.
The Scottish Government will continue to discuss the sites with restricted access regularly with Historic Environment Scotland, whose programme of prioritised inspections will inform the timescale for reopening.