§ Sir Wyn RobertsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to issue additional guidance to the residuary body regarding surplus properties and disputed properties where an activity continues beyond 1 April 1996. [1899]
§ Mr. HagueI have today issued, for consultation, revised draft guidance to the residuary body for Wales dealing with property which should be transferred to it. The revised guidance indicates that any property, other than administrative buildings, which is not required by the new authorities for the purpose of carrying out their functions or any property whose future ownership is in dispute should not be transferred to the residuary body where the property is used for an existing activity for the carrying out of which full or part-time staff are wholly employed.
Such properties should normally be transferred to a successor authority or authorities for disposal or resolution of the dispute. In the absence of a local agreement the following will apply: where the property is owned or leased by a non-split district or county it should be transferred to the successor authority; where the property is owned or leased by a split district or county it should be transferred into the joint ownership of the successor authorities.