§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the reply of 10 February 1987, Official Report, column 157, if one of the conditions of the sale of the Spectrum Arena will ensure that it remains in leisure use; if he envisages any change in the different types of leisure facilities currently available at the Spectrum Arena after its sale; what percentage of the proceeds of the sale of the Spectrum Arena will be spent on new facilities at Birchwood; and what will the remaining proceeds be used for.
§ Mr. John PattenIt is for the development corporation in the first instance to determine any conditions of sale in relation to the Spectrum Arena. I understand that the corporation's preference is for continued leisure use, but the precise nature of such use would be for discussion between the corporation and prospective purchasers.
Substantial amounts were due to the development corporation at the time the Spectrum Arena closed in respect of loans to the former lessees, the Birchwood Project (Warrington) Limited. Those amounts will be a first call on the proceeds of sale, after provision for the proposed investment in new facilities in Birchwood referred to in my previous reply. No specific proposals have been submitted to the Department as to the amount and nature of that new investment.