§ 33. Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his policy towards the care and ultimate disposal of surplus listed buildings in the defence estate.
§ Mr. FreemanThe Property Services Agency is responsible, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, for the maintenance of the majority of historic listed buildings on the Defence Estate. It is its duty to ensure that such buildings are properly protected, even if surplus to requirements and awaiting disposal. The Ministry of Defence and Property Services Agency follow the Department of the Environment's guidelines which stipulate that disused historic buildings should continue to receive regular inspections and a normal standard of maintenance in order to keep the property fit for further use, or to maintain its disposal value. Such buildings can, however, create special problems and they may be difficult to sell. Despite this, every effort is made to keep them in a fit state and the MOD has recently established a historic military buildings committee, with expert outside representatives, to advise on ways in which such properties can best be preserved or disposed of in the most sympathetic manner.