§ Mr. Scottasked the Lord Privy Seal if agreement has yet been reached on the Soviet embassy's proposed development of sites in the Royal borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement in regard to his proposals for the future use of the north-east corner of Kensington Palace Gardens.
§ Mr. Hurd[pursuant to his reply, 27 July 1981]: The following is the corrected version.
We have for some time been discussing with the Soviet Government the reciprocal provision of embassy sites in London and Moscow. In Moscow we are considering sites for our embassy offices and staff accommodation. In London the Russians wish to put offices and some staff accommodation on Nos. 1–7 Kensington Palace Gardens, with recreational facilities and additional staff accommodation on another site, retaining their existing residence at 13 Kensington Palace Gardens. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office informed the Soviet charge d'affaires on 24 July that the former Ministry of Defence site in Warwick Road, which is Government-owned, may be developed for staff residences and amenities. The Kensington Palace Gardens sites are owned by the Crown Estate Commissioners. The normal planning procedures will of course need to be observed.