Commonwealth Institute (Hansard, 24 February 1994)

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many years lease remains on the building of the Commonwealth Institute; and what planning restrictions exist on the building.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The lease, dated 9 January 1958, for the site occupied by the Commonwealth Institute runs for a period of 999 years from 1 August 1957.
Alterations to the institute as built and the use to which the site can be put are constrained by a number of the clauses within the lease, and by the building's grade II listed status.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what limitations exist under statute on the purpose for which the Commonwealth Institute building has to be used.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
No limitations exist under statute. However, clause 16 of the lease for the site occupied by the Commonwealth Institute stipulatesat all times during the continuance of the term to use and occupy the premises for the purposes of the Commonwealth Institute as from time to time declared by law or for the purposes of an art gallery or museum and for no other purposes whatsoever without the consent of the lessor in writing".

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is estimated to be the cost of restoring the Commonwealth Institute.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The Commonwealth Institute's management estimate the cost of works to bring the building up to a satisfactory state of repair to be a minimum of £3 million.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if primary legislation is necessary to close the Commonwealth Institute.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
The Commonwealth Institute Act 1958 would require amendment or repeal should the institute be obliged to close.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what alternative use the Government have for the Commonwealth Institute building.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary wishes the institute to continue to use the Commonwealth Institute building.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government are obliged to maintain the institute's building after grant has been withdrawn and the Commonwealth Institute has closed.

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Responsibility for the Commonwealth Institute building rests with the Commonwealth Institute trustees, of which my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is one. He is also responsible for the institute under the 1958 Commonwealth Institute Act.

§ Mr. Worthington
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the Government's price to the Commonwealth Institute in real and constant price terms since 1979.
406W

§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd
Foreign and Commonwealth Office grants to the Commonwealth Institute in cash terms since 1979 are detailed below:

Financial year Grant in aid £

1978–79 1,222,000

1979–80 1,402,013

1980–81 1,680,450

1981–82 1,971,520

1982–83 2,183,000

1983–84 2,497,000

1984–85 2,342,000

1985–86 2,515,000

1986–87 2,673,000

1987–88 2,665,000

1988–89 2,665,000

1989–90 2,524,000

1990–91 2,759,000

1991–92 2,716,000

1992–93 3,092,000

1993–94 3,674,000

The GDP deflators required to calcualte real terms figures are shown on page 121 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1994–95 (HC31). Copies are available in the Library of the House.

Financial year	Grant in aid £
1978–79	1,222,000
1979–80	1,402,013
1980–81	1,680,450
1981–82	1,971,520
1982–83	2,183,000
1983–84	2,497,000
1984–85	2,342,000
1985–86	2,515,000
1986–87	2,673,000
1987–88	2,665,000
1988–89	2,665,000
1989–90	2,524,000
1990–91	2,759,000
1991–92	2,716,000
1992–93	3,092,000
1993–94	3,674,000