ABSTRACT
In the Session 1986-87 the Environment Committee of the House of Commons undertook an enquiry into historic buildings and ancient monuments. This provided the first opportunity since the Gowers Committee in 1948 (see chapter 9) for a thorough examination of government policy on the heritage. Select Committees of this kind have power ‘to send for persons, papers and records’, to appoint specialist advisers and to carry out visits of inspection. Their reports are presented to the House and published. The reports include verbatim minutes of oral evidence and copies of the more important written evidence received (all other written evidence is placed in the House of Commons library). Unlike the Gowers Committee, the Select Committee heard evidence in public.
