§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in pursuit of his policy of privatisation and the introduction of private capital into the public sector, he has any proposals to grant a franchise for the exercise of all his functions in the Tower of London.
§ Mr. HeseltineIt would not be appropriate for all my functions at the Tower of London to be carried out by a private sector firm. However, a catering concession already exists there, and I am very willing to consider similar possibilities.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long the staff shortages at the Tower of London will delay completion of the inventory of the national collection of arms and armour.
§ Mr. MonroI have authorised the recruitment of the necessary staff and this is now taking place. Once they are in post, listing of objects in the collection, as a necessary preliminary to the taking of an inventory, is expected to take about a year.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the inventory work at the Tower of London has revealed any losses from the national collection of arms and armour.
§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, apart from the results of the inventory of the national collection of arms and armour at the Tower of London, he is aware of any losses from that collection.
§ Mr. MonroTwo small losses from the Tower of London were reported in 1977. A theft has recently been reported from objects on loan to Dover castle and is being investigated.
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§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long he expects the shortages of staff at the Tower of London will further delay the opening of the new galleries or limit the opening times.
§ Mr. MonroExisting galleries in the Tower armouries will continue to be opened as staffing permits. Work is proceeding on developing three new galleries.