County Hall, London: Use (Hansard, 6 November 1986)

§ Lord Airedale
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will ensure that consideration is given to devoting to the arts some of the large rooms in County Hall, situated as it is close to the Royal Festival Hall and the rest of the South Bank arts complex.

§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Lord Skelmersdale)
My Lords, this is at present a matter for the London Residuary Body, in whom County Hall is vested. The London Residuary Body is now marketing County Hall. The future use of any of the rooms will be for the new owners of the building to determine. subject to the granting of appropriate planning and listed building consents.

§ Lord Airedale
My Lords, I am obliged for that Answer, but is the Minister saying that the fate of that magnificent building on that splendid site in the heart of the capital city is not a matter of national interest and concern, and therefore of concern to the Government on behalf of the people?

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, the fact that there is national interest in this subject was given point to, first, by the noble Lord's Question, and, secondly, by a Question of my noble friend Lord Boyd-Carpenter the other day. It is government policy, which was clearly stated during consideration of the abolition Bill, that all the assets and debts of the metropolitan counties, including Greater London, would go to the various residuary bodies, and that it would be for the various residuary bodies to determine what to do with them.

§ Lord Strabolgi
My Lords, who is to give planning consent? Is it Lambeth Council?

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, yes.

§ Baroness Phillips
My Lords, will the Minister explain what he meant by "marketing"? Did he mean selling? Why cannot he say that?

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, I thought that was a perfectly normal English word. Yes. I do mean selling.

§ Baroness Birk
My Lords, is it not true that the building will not be vacated and can be used until March 1988? Would it not make economic and artistic sense for those rooms to be used during the interregnum as concert rehearsals rooms, of which the South Bank is short: or for the National Theatre; or for the exhibitions that the GLC promoted, which London misses, as it does its tremendous support for the arts? Will the Minister tell us what can be done in the interregnum?

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, as I hoped I had made clear in my original answer, what happens in the interim is a matter for the residuary body. If the South Bank Board or anyone else is interested in obtaining rehearsal or any other facilities in County Hall, they should express their interest to the London Residuary Body, in whom County Hall is now vested.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, is the Minister not aware that some chairmen of residuary bodies in other parts of the country, where districts wish to purchase or take over public assets left by the counties, are acting like little dictators? Was that also the intention of the Act?

§ Lord Skelmersdale
My Lords, I was not aware of that slur on chairmen of residuary bodies in other parts of the country. If the noble Lord can substantiate what he says. I shall look into the matter.

§ Lord Dean of Beswick
My Lords, I shall certainly do so with regard to Wakefield and what was West Yorkshire's County Hall.