§ Lord Brougham and Vauxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make an announcement about the future of Croxteth Hall and Country Park.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleI am pleased to announce that I have today written to Mr. Phillip Carter welcoming his acceptance of the Government's invitation to serve as a member of the Merseyside Residuary Body with a special responsibility for Croxteth Hall and Country Park. His task will be to set up and become Chairman of a trust to take over responsibility for Croxteth from the Merseyside Residuary Body.
I visited Croxteth today together with Mr. Carter and the Chairman of the residuary body to discuss the main tasks which lie ahead. These will be to commission a long-term management, development and financial plan and to appoint managing agents with the necessary expertise to manage the estate; to recommend a programme of capital works; to discuss possible financial support with national and local bodies concerned with the heritage and the private sector; and to consider and consult on the constitution, structure and financing of the trust, expecting this to be achieved by 1st April 1988.