§ Mr. Andrew Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he intends to take to ensure that Heveningham Hall, Suffolk, is opened to the public in 1987, in accordance with the covenant agreed when it was sold by his Department in November 1981 to the effect that the principal rooms, including the hall, would be open for at least 30 days a year from 1982.
§ Mr. WaldegraveFor various reasons, including a fire which occurred in 1984, the owner of Heveningham Hall, Mr. A. Al-Ghazzi, has not been able to comply with the covenant relating to public access and work on repairing the wing damaged by fire has been held up. Responsibility for ensuring that the owner complies with the covenants now lies, in the first instance, with the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission who, together with the local planning authority, have been monitoring the condition of the building and are in touch with the owner and his agents. I have asked the chairman of the commission for his assessment of the position with a view to considering whether intervention by my right hon. Friend would be desirable.