§ Mr. AltonTo ask the Secretary of State for the environment when he will meet members of the action committee to save the palm house in Sefton park; what funds are available for the continued refurbishment of the palm house; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robin Squire[holding answer 29 March 1993]: The hon. Member will remember, that I wrote to him in November of last year, agreeing to meet with himself, Liverpool city council and members of the save the palm house committee. Since then, an urban programme grant has been approved in January 1993 and has secured the safety of the palm house structure and provided Liverpool city council with an opportunity to explore further options for the long-term future of the building and its environs.
With this in mind, the city council's planning and development services department has proposals to establish a joint council/voluntary sector action committee 136W of its own. However, this is at a preliminary stage and subject to approval by the city council. Once this is formalised, a meeting can then be arranged.