HL Deb 03 April 1995 vol 563 c7WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why, given the full review of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens carried out by a team under the Dame Jennifer Jenkins' chairmanship three years ago, which was widely discussed and approved, it has been thought acceptable by the Government that the Royal Parks Agency should now commit up to £180,000 on work by "consultants" on "what visitors want in the way of facilities" and "what improvements they would like to see" in Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, when there are already such urgent calls on their funds as traffic-calming measures and the reinstatement of grass on the Serpentine car-park, for which no date is given.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of National Heritage (Viscount Astor)

Responsibility for the subject of the question has been delegated to the Royal Parks Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. David Welch I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter to Lord Kennet from the Chief Executive of the Royal Parks Agency, Mr. David Welch, dated 3.4.95:

The Secretary of State for National Heritage has asked me to reply to your question about why the Royal Parks Agency is undertaking a market research study, when the Royal Parks Review Group has already carried out a review of Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens.

The study, which is being undertaken on behalf of the agency by the University of London, commenced in January 1994 in all the Royal Parks and was introduced following the review group's recommendation—in its first report on Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens—that "market research should be carried out at regular intervals".

One of the agency's aims—set out in its Visitor's Charter—is to ensure that the Royal Parks are "managed with efficiency and effectiveness and in accordance with the principles of public service as set out in the Citizen's Charter." The market research is providing valuable advice to the agency on what our visitors think of our parks and is assisting in our aim of providing the best service possible for our visitors.