§ Mr. SimpsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much plutonium British Nuclear Fuels plc has stockpiled at Sellafield on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
§ Mr. AitkenThe United Kingdom does not hold significant stocks of weapons-grade plutonium which is not required for our operational stockpile of weapons.
§ Mr. GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what occasions it has been necesssary for him to appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment against a local authority's refusal of planning permission for the destruction of listed buildings or properties regarded as having heritage importance; and whether he consults the Department of National Heritage before deciding how to dispose of Ministry of Defence property of heritage significance.
§ Mr. HanleyTo date, there have been no occasions when it has been necessary for my Department to appeal to the Secretary of State for the Environment against a local authority's refusal to grant permission to demolish an historic building. Kennet district council has refused a recent application for consent to demolish Gore Cross farmhouse, grade II listed building. We are awaiting the outcomee of an appeal which was submitted and subsequently heard by means of an informal planning inquiry during December 1993. Currently the Department does not consult the Department of National Heritage as a matter of routine when considering proposed disposals of historic buildings, although this is currently under review by my officials.
§ Mr. GorstTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the buildings, docklands, barracks, sites or premises that have a significant heritage value and that have become or are likely shortly to become redundant to the requirements of his Department; what action he is taking to dispose of each of these properties; from whom and at what stage he obtains advice with regard to the preservation of properties of heritage importance; and what factors dictate whether heritage aspects should be subordinated to financial considerations.
§ Mr. HanleyThe information requested is as follows. The listed and scheduled properties have been identified as redundant by the Department and the current position over their disposal is shown:
905W
Property and location Disposal position Bawdsey Manor, Bawdsey, Suffolk With defence land agent for disposal DRA Christchurch With defence land agent for disposal East Camp, RAF Hendon, Hendon Officers' mess has been offered to Middlesex university. The entrance way, control tower and Grahame White hanger are currently up for sale Hilton Farm, Steading, Rosyth Sale expected to be completed during 1994–95 Horseshoe Barracks, Shoeburyness, Essex Planning negotiations in progress with Southend council. Site cannot be sold until accommodation has been provided for the Sergeants' mess and an archaeological survey undertaken Peninsula Barracks, Winchester, Hampshire Joint MOD/Crown estate disposal RAF Greenham Common, Newbury, Berkshire Greenham lodge sold subject to contract Mews cottage sold subject to contract West lodge to be remarketed as original offers too low Royal Arsenal Woolwich, Woolwich, London With defence land agent for disposal Royal Marine Barracks, Eastney, Hampshire Eastney fort and north wing of museum to be sold to Hampshire county council. Remainder of museum to be sold to the trustees of the museum. Both sales to be completed mid-1994 Royal Naval Armaments Depot, Priddy's Hard, Gosport, Hampshire Heritage area and Palmerston fortifications to be sold to Gosport borough council St. George Barracks (North), Gosport, Hampshire Disposal linked to future of Royal Clarence yard Waltham Abbey Steering committee preparing case for transfer of heritage holding to a trust
Property and location Proposed action ACIO Tunbridge Wells, Tunbridge Wells, Kent Angelsey House, Aldershot, Hampshire To be sold on relocation of explosive ordnance unit. Carlton House, Stirling HMS Nelson—Gunwharf—Portsmouth, Hampshire Two listed buildings currently used by the Army will be declared surplus. RAF Hullavington Royal Naval Hospital, Stonehouse, Plymouth, Devon We are conducting a systematic review of all our historic buildings to determine which should be retained by the Ministry of Defence, in their current or alternative use, and which should be disposed of expeditiously to ensure their preservation by finding a suitable alternative use.
Following the transfer of responsibility for the upkeep of its property, including historic buildings, from the Property Services Agency in 1990, the Department has been putting in place new arrangements. An official has also been nominated to be the focal point for policy on hisoric buildings and is in active consultation with the Department of the Environment conservation unit, Department of National Heritage and the national heritage bodies over the preservation of properties of heritage importance. Defence Works Services has appointed a conservation architect who is available to advise all of our property managers, who also call upon specialist conservation consultants to produce quadrennial reports on each listed and scheduled historic building.
906WThese properties have been identified for disposal but not action has yet been taken:
When disposing of historic buildings the Department aims to achieve sympathetic and suitable alternative uses which assure their preservation whilst retaining a duty to secure the best price that can reasonably be obtained.