7. Will the Minister make a statement on grade I listed buildings in Wales? (OAQ(5)0079(EI)

Yes. Some 30,000 buildings across Wales have been protected through listing as nationally important buildings of special architectural or historical interest. Four hundred and ninety three of these are grade I.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for confirming that there are 493 grade I listed buildings in Wales. We also know that they have a variety of different types of ownership. I personally take an interest in the great chapels of Wales created in the nineteenth century. I believe we need a strategy to protect all the grade I listed buildings in Wales. Will the Cabinet Secretary look into creating such a strategy, preferably not involving Cadw?

Local authorities are able to put together local lists of historic interest, but, in terms of what Cadw is doing—and I think it’s important that we recognise that Welsh Government is there to support, both in terms of statutory functions and non-statutory functions, the historic environment—we’re leading on three key initiatives. One is the places of worship action plan, another is the support that Cadw offers local authorities in preparing buildings-at-risk registers, which I think is absolutely crucial, given that places such as Morriston Tabernacle in my friend’s constituency has recently been funded for an options appraisal for the building, which is helping to map and secure its future. That couldn’t have been achieved without close collaboration with the local authority. Thirdly, we are improving the protection of grade I listed buildings and nineteenth century chapels in particular, through protection by the law. The 2016 historic environment Act is designed to enhance protection of grade I listed buildings and, indeed, grade II and grade II* buildings as well.