Public Record Office: Chancery Lane Building

HL Deb 17 October 1996 vol 574 c229WA

Lord Denning

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer of Earl Howe on 25th July, whether they have decided on the future of the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane and whether it will be maintained in its existing state or be transformed by internal reconstruction into something different.

Earl Howe

Responsibility for the use of the Public Record Office building in Chancery Lane has been delegated under the terms of its framework document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate under its Chief Executive, Mr. Neil Borrett. The agency is therefore responding to the question.

Letter to Lord Denning from the Chief Executive of the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, Mr. N. E. Borrett, dated 16th October 1996.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Earl Howe, has asked me to respond to your Question regarding the above.

The future of the Public Record Office in Chancery Lane is still under investigation. This important building is listed as Grade II starred. Agreement has been reached with English Heritage on the scope of limited internal alterations which would be appropriate for future uses. No decision on the building's future use has been made.