§ Lord Gainfordasked Her Majesty's Government:
What further action they propose to take in the sale of County Hall.
§ Viscount GoschenMy right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has today written to the Chairman of the London Residuary Body withdrawing the direction which he issued to the body on 22nd July, prohibiting them from taking any steps in relation to the sale or disposal of County Hall without first obtaining his consent.
66WAThat direction was issued for the purposes of giving the London School of Economics and Political Science the opportunity of submitting a bid for the County Hall site. It was, however, one of the conditions which he agreed with the director of the LSE, before issuing that direction, that any proposal to acquire County Hall should be endorsed by the Universities Funding Council as required by the rules which govern universities' property transactions. The Universities Funding Council have written to the LSE today that they do not feel able to endorse its proposal. We have therefore concluded that any bid by the LSE for County Hall would involve a significant and unacceptable call on public funds.