There are growing fears that government cuts to English Heritage (EH) will mean less money for archaeological projects.

Tessa Jowell, the Secretary of State for Culture, announced the 4.6% reduction in spending in December, but EH says that in reality the figure is nearer 6.3% - on top of 10% cuts since 2000. This amounts to a 13m reduction in real terms, contrasting with a 98% increase in government funding for sport.

Simon Thurley, EH chief executive, said, 'We need to look and see what a 13m cut means for us. It will mean something, and probably something that we don't like very much and that our partners won't like very much.'

He has already axed staff numbers by 11%, including the post of Chief Archaeologist last year. He ruled out an 'equal misery for all' approach, fuelling fears that archaeological funding could be hit disproportionately.

In a letter to the Guardian, Alison Taylor of the Institute of Field Archaeologists warned that the 'accelerating programme of cuts' would mean that the 'worst-hit of all funding will be the budget for archaeological commissions, ie the money that actually supports work in the field.'

The government cuts are only the latest of EH's woes. There is no guarantee that the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has given 3bn in grants in its 10-year life including 1bn on historic buildings, will exist after the current lottery contract ends in 2009. Its director, Carole Souter, insisted she was 'confident' that ministers would confirm that heritage would remain a lottery good cause 'as soon as they are able'.

In addition to archaeology, EH's major repairs programme for cathedrals and its grants scheme for historic parish churches are also rumoured to be under threat.

However, the Department of Culture denied that the budget had been cut. A spokesman said that 'English Heritage will receive an extra 13 million for capital projects across the next three years.'

Web Links::

Guardian Article( Maeve Kennedy)

Times Article (Jenny Davey)

DCMS website

Heritage Lottery Fund