§ Mr. CartwrightTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of his efforts to preserve military buildings of historic interest in the Woolwich area.
§ Mr. Freeman[holding answer 21 April 1988]: The Historic Military Buildings Committee visited Royal 42W Arsenal west and Connaught barracks on 14 January and had useful discussions about the options available for dealing with historic buildings at both sites. It has been decided to dispose of Connaught barracks once the remaining occupants have been relocated, and in formulating plans for disposal we shall be seeking to ensure that the historic interest and character of the site are respected. No decisions have yet been taken about the future location of the directorate general of quality assurance. However, I expect to outline our proposals for the vacant historic buildings at Royal Arsenal West not directly affected by any decision on the future location of the directorate general of quality assurance before the summer recess.