§ Baroness Coxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether following the answer given on 11th May to Lord Brougham and Vaux they will now confirm payment of the £10 million endowment to the Zoological Society of London.
The Minister of State, Department of the Environment (The Earl of Caithness)We have arranged immediate payment on account of £9.27m to the society, being the balance out of £10m after deducting an amount already paid for the current financial year.
The society has shown its determination to put its affairs in order by proceeding rapidly with the creation of a new subsidiary operating company, with a strong management team, to run London Zoo and Whipsnade Park. The company has now drawn up a development strategy which draws on the earlier consultants' report but also reflects much innovative and imaginative thinking by the new team.
Strengthened by their expert new management, and with this support from government, the society and its operating company are now in a position to harness public enthusiasm and secure, once and for all, a sucessful future for these world-famous zoos, without further public subsidy. The Government's financial commitment to the zoos is therefore at an end.
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