§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what terms the General Lighthouse Fund has lent money to operate holiday homes to Trinitas Services; what net rental proceeds have been remitted to the fund; and if he will make a statement. [72310]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 23 July 2002]: The General Lighthouse Fund has made available to Trinitas Services Ltd. a loan facility up to £1 million for the refurbishment and marketing of the lighthouse cottages under a commercial contract with Rural Retreats Ltd. To date £440,000 has been drawn down against this loan facility.
The loan is repayable over 10 years and carries an interest rate of 5 per cent. starting after three years. Security is by a Deed of Charge over TSL's interest in each property. The lease provides for ground rents in addition to the interest on the loan. There is no direct rental income. A non executive director of Trinity House Lighthouse Service (THLS) has been appointed to the board of TSL as a nominee of the Lighthouse Service.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 2001–02 will be published; and if he will make a statement. [72313]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 23 July 2002]: We expect to publish the General Lighthouse Fund report and accounts for the financial year 2001–02 in early 2003.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the lighthouse centres opened to visitors over the past two years; what the(a) capital costs, (b) revenue costs and (c) income of each of those centres has been in each of the last two years; and if he will make a statement. [72311]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 23 July 2002]: The Northern Lighthouse Board has none of its lighthouses opened to visitors over the last two years other than by exceptional special arrangement. The board is currently negotiating with two local trusts one in south-west Scotland and the other in Orkney to reach agreement for regular public access to two lighthouses.
All of the Trinity House Lighthouse Service visitor centres are operated through third parties and not directly by the Lighthouse Service. The GLF benefits from an agreed share of the profits under each scheme and thus profits and costs are set out in the table.
1276W
£ Lighthouse Income Capital cost 2000–01 Alderney 405 — Flamborough 370 3,500 Lizard 5,616 3,000 North Foreland 472 2,474
£ Lighthouse Income Capital cost Pendeen 797 2,807 Portland Bill 7,746 3,000 South Stack 3,364 26,721 Southwold 30 2,500 Start Point 894 3,307 19,695 40,310 2001–02 Alderney 466 — Flamborough 643 — Lizard 5,117 — North Foreland — — Pendeen 570 — Portland Bill 595 — South Stack 9,223 — Southwold 5,963 2,965 Start Point 251 — 1,781 — 23,470 2,965
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what investment has been made by the General Lighthouse Fund in the development of the 40 vacant houses owned by Trinity House to turn those dwellings into holiday lettings; and if he will make a statement. [72314]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 23 July 2002]: The properties are ex lighthouse keepers' cottages and have been empty in recent years. In order to put them in a suitable material state for transferring to Trinitas Services Ltd. it was necessary to bring them up to modern building standards and comply with health and safety regulations. The cost is in the order of £500k which includes reinstatement of kitchens and bathrooms. This cost would have been similar if the cottages had been prepared for sale.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the value is of the General Lighthouse Fund's reserve fund; and if he will make a statement. [72312]
§ Mr. Jamieson[holding answer 23 July 2002]: The General Lighthouse Fund is valued at £64 million as at 22 July 2002. This includes a reserve of £32 million to support pension arrangements.
The fund is maintained at a level to meet liabilities under Section 211 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995, including expenditure on wreck removal, pensions and self insurance of assets.