HC Deb 20 December 1960 vol 632 cc1046-7
14. Mr. Rees

asked the Minister of Works if he will make a statement on the future of Swansea Castle.

Lord John Hope

Yes, Sir. The owners of Swansea Castle, The Castle and Central Cinemas, Limited, have offered this important monument as a gift to the State and I have accepted their offer. Certain urgent first-aid repairs have already been carried out and we shall now proceed with a planned programme of clearance and permanent preservation work which will take some years.

As an integral part of the arrangement whereby the Ministry has accepted responsibility for the work and the cost of preserving the castle itself, Swansea Corporation has given an undertaking to clear the surroundings of the castle and to lay them out at its expense, as and when this becomes possible, so as to show the castle to best advantage. I am sure that the castle when properly displayed will be a striking asset to the centre of Swansea and I am glad to have been able to co-operate with the local authority in this joint venture.