§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the terms of the arrangements between his Department and the Grosvenor Estates about the site and buildings of St. George's hospital, Hyde Park Corner, which is due to close at the end of June 1980 ; why the Department has refused to negotiate with any other party or allow inspections of the property ; why the Department has spent £250,000 restoring the facade of the building ; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir George Young: The freehold of the property vests in the Secretary of State for Social Services, but part of the site is subject to a covenant requiring a first offer of purchase be made to the Grosvenor Estates. (The medical school is vested in the council of St. George's hospital medical school.) We are considering the position with the Grosvenor Estates and investigating what alternative planning permission can be expected. Meanwhile we have not taken any decision on means to dispose of the Secretary of State's interest in order to secure the best market price. But we hope to come to a decision on this matter very soon. Until these questions have been decided there is no basis for negotiation with other parties, nor is it practicable to arrange inspection of the hospital premises by interested parties while the hospital continues in use.
Recently the dangerous condition of the facade was the subject of representations by the Westminster city council, and given the responsibilty of the health authority for a listed building, it decided to undertake urgent remedial work at a cost of £200,000.