§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the. Secretary of State for National Heritage (1) what will be the location of the marble statues, greyhounds and urns to be temporarily removed from Brodsworth hall, Brodsworth, South Yorkshire, by English Heritage; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what was the original estimate given by English Heritage of the restoration of Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire; what is the current estimate; when it will be fully open to the public; and if he will make a statement;
(3) if he will list the items that have been stolen or lost to date during the restoration by English Heritage of Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire; how many have been recovered; and if he will make a statement;
(4) if he has visited Brodsworth hall, near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, or intends to visit during the next 12 months in connection with its restoration by English Heritage.
§ Mr. BrookeThe original estimate by English Heritage of the cost of the restoration of Brodsworth hall was £3 million, at 1991 prices. The current estimate is £3.5 million at 1993 prices. The house is expected to be fully open to the public during the summer of 1995.
One of the notable features of the house and gardens is the Italian marble statuary which was placed in the main areas of the house, and also in the garden. Two of the garden statues, valued at £2,000 each, were stolen around the time of English Heritage's acquisition of the house and 473W since then the garden statuary, which includes large numbers of greyhounds, has been stored at a secret location for security reasons. The stolen statues have never been recovered. The garden statuary will be replaced in situ, with suitable security precautions, when the hall is opened to the public.
I have not yet visited Brodsworth hall, although I should like to do so at some stage in the future to see the restoration work carried out by English Heritage.