§ Mr. Gummerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the future of Heveningham Hall near Halesworth in Suffolk: and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HeseltineHeveningham Hall was acquired by one of my predecessors in 1970, using moneys from the national land fund, in order to secure its preservation and that of its contents and estate. It has always been intended, however, that Government ownership of this property should be temporary and should extend only to carrying out necessary repairs and finding a suitable new owner. Unfortunately, attempts to dispose of the property since 1970 have failed. The cost to the land fund of acquisition and subsequent maintenance has been in the region of £500,000.
In the light of advice about the future of the hall, and consultation with the Historic Buildings Council, I have decided that, provided a suitable owner can be found, the most appropriate solution would be to sell the property and estate
368W
§ Mr. HeseltineYes, two. The Government think it appropriate to increase the grant-in-aid to the Nature Conservancy Council to permit an exceptional land purchase. The necessary increase to the relevant cash limit will be offset by an equivalent saving on the urban programme.
As a result of the transfer of responsibility for museums and galleries from another part of my Department to the Property Services Agency a sum of £0.3 million administration costs is being transferred from one cash limit to another; in addition the cash limit for Vote XIV.2 is being increased by £0.1 million to meet increased payments to industrial staff as a consequence of the recent pay settlement.
Supplementary provision is being sought in both cases. The details of the cash limit changes are as follows:
into private ownership. I have therefore instructed my officials to discuss with Strutt and Parker, chartered surveyors, the arrangements for the sale.
My inclination is to sell the freehold of the house and estate but to retain ownership of the furniture and seek the agreement of a new owner to keeping it in its setting and allowing some continued public access. We are considering with Strutt and Parker how this might best be achieved.
The hall will be open to the public as usual while sale negotiations are in progress.
The first call on the net proceeds from the sale will be for reimbursing the national land fund for the money spent on acquisition and maintenance.