§ 3.4 p.m.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they recognise the architectural distinction and value of the buildings at Sheerness which the Admiralty is giving up; and what steps they are taking to secure that these building are preserved or properly cared for, when they are no longer in Government possession.]
§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (THE EARL OF SELKIRK)My Lords, the Government are aware that a number of the buildings at Sheerness completed during the first quarter of the last century are of architectural interest. Seventeen residences and eight other buildings, including the quadrangle, the old Admiralty House and the dockyard church, have therefore been listed under Section 30 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1947, as buildings of special architectural and historical interest. This requires that two months' notice be given before any alteration seriously affecting the character of the buildings. The local planning authority or the Minister of Housing and Local Government can then make a preservation order under Section 29 of the Act, if it is considered expedient to do so.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Does he agree that we have here a group of buildings that display the admirable qualities of dignity and style so often 444 found in buildings associated with the Royal Navy? Would it not be a great national loss if proper care were not taken of the buildings which he has mentioned, of which I have excellent photographs which I can show to my noble friend and other noble Lords, obtained from the National Buildings Records?
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, I entirely agree with what the noble Lord has said; and that is, of course, the reason why these buildings have been listed under the Statute of 1947, which I think is an effective method of dealing with this sort of problem.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, we are very happy to learn of the interest of the First Lord of the Admiralty in this and in anything else which the noble Lord, Lord Conesford, wishes to bring forward to ensure preservation. We hope at the same time the character, and reputation of the workers in the dockyard will not be neglected; at present they are not very well provided for.
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKMy Lords, I entirely agree, and my first concern with regard to Sheerness is the people who live there. I would say to the noble Lord, Lord Conesford, that the best thing he can do is to find a first-class tenant to be there to look after these buildings.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, it is possible in the case of the most valuable of these buildings that the vendors could do something themselves by protecting the building with a covenant. Possibly in this matter Her Majesty's Government would keep in close touch with the Royal Fine Art Commission.
§ THE EARL OF SELKIRKI am not very keen on a covenant in this matter. I think the Statute covers the point which the noble Lord has in mind.