§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage how much her Department estimates it cost to establish each executive agency associated with her Department. [16966]
§ Mr. Sproat[pursuant to his reply 25 February 1997, Official Report, column 146]Regrettably, the reply was incorrect. The correct information is as follows: Although the Historic Royal Palaces agency is now associated with my Department, it was set up by the Department of the Environment prior to the establishment of the Department of National Heritage in April 1992. My Department established The Royal parks agency on 1 April 1993, continuing the earlier work undertaken by the Department of the Environment. Some administrative costs were incurred by my Department between April 1992 and 1 April 1993 but I regret detailed information is not available.