§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
What steps they are taking to ensure that the Navy's centuries-long connection with Greenwich is maintained in the future and is not broken on account of the movement elsewhere of staff courses.
Earl HoweOnce Greenwich ceases to be a naval establishment, the continuing naval connection will be in the historical importance of the site. My right honourable friend the Defence Secretary announced on 28th March (Official Report, cols. 689–90) that he would expect a future trust "to pay particular regard to the college's historical associations with the Royal Navy". We intend that the naval heritage of the site should be given prominence in the objectives of a trust and that the trustees should include naval expertise. Various proposals have been made by the National Maritime Museum and others for the interpretation and celebration of the naval past of the site. It will be for a trust to take such ideas forward with interested parties. The historical association with Greenwich Hospital will be strengthened by the reversion of Trafalgar Quarters to the charity for conversion to sheltered accommodation in keeping with its founding objectives.