§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will expand on the Answer by Lord Henley on 30th March (HL Deb., WA 54) that "no significant arguments" have emerged against the proposed removal of the Royal Naval College from Greenwich when the long-term interests of the taxpayer, as opposed to the Defence budget, appear not to have been fully examined and before the future of these Grade 1 listed buildings has ' been satisfactorily determined.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Ministry of Defence (Earl Howe)Although our main priority must be to consider the implications for the Defence Budget, we also had in mind wider issues of interest to the taxpayer. Other government departments with an interest in the matter, especially the Department of National Heritage, were closely involved in the decision. We also invited comments widely in a public consultation process which began on 18 January and ended on 10 March.
I am satisfied that there are no factors that we have not considered which are likely to cause us to reconsider the decision we have announced. Certainly, no such factors were drawn to the attention of my honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces during the consultation period following the announcement of our proposals in another place on 8 December last year.