Letchworth Garden City Corporation

HC Deb 22 October 1992 vol 212 c350W

Mr. Heald

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the long-term future of Letchworth garden city corporation.

Mr. Baldry

The Corporation was established as a statutory body under the Letchworth Garden City Corporation Act 1962 to manage the garden city estate. The Department recently invited the corporation to consider how best to undertake its functions within the private sector, while retaining the fundamental aims and objectives of the garden city movement.

The corporation has indicated that it intends to place a Bill before Parliament this November to transfer the assets, liabilities and activities of the corporation to a new charitable organisation to be called the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation. The corporation is currently undertaking a consultation exercise on its proposals.

The Department supports the corporation's proposed way forward.