HL Deb 12 March 1996 vol 570 cc58-9WA
Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Secretary of State for Defence has offered a 150-year lease of the buildings at Greenwich; whose advice he has taken about this; and whether he was aware that the Government intended to recommend Greenwich as a World Heritage Site, a status that under the World Heritage Convention imposes certain duties on the Government.

Earl Howe

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence has invited expressions of interest on the basis of a long lease of up to 150 years. In deciding the term of a lease he will take account of the need for a period of return on necessary capital investment, and the importance of stability for the future of the site and for any organisation which might occupy it. It was made clear that the Government were considering an application to UNESCO to designate parts of Greenwich as a World Heritage Site, and that prospective tenants must undertake to co-operate in the preparation of the application and subsequent management arrangements that might be required.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Why the Secretary of State for Defence has contemplated non British leaseholders at Greenwich, and what advice he received from his estate agents or others about this.

Earl Howe

My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Defence is seeking the best ideas for the future use of this unique site. In so doing he did not wish to exclude any source of ideas.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What reason they have to believe that the armed services are content to see Greenwich disposed of in view of (a) the disturbance that will be caused by the intended new buildings at Camberley being neither ready in time nor within the estimated costs, and (b) of the importance of historic buildings and traditions both to service and national morale.

Earl Howe

Our work, which was detailed in the consultative document issued by my honourable friend the Minister of State for the Armed Forces in January 1995, a copy of which is in the Library of the House, demonstrated that Greenwich was neither the most suitable nor the most cost effective site for the Joint Service Command and Staff College. Developing work on the new college since has not undermined that judgment.

Inevitably and understandably there will be some regrets when the Royal Navy vacates such an historic site. However, in recognising the national importance of the Royal Naval College, the Government is determined that there should in future be enhanced public access to site. This would be important to implementing the recommendations made in Dame Jennifer Jenkins' report on Greenwich Park, and the proposals to achieve World Heritage Site status for Greenwich.

Lord Kennet

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, when the Secretary of State for Defence claimed that there was insufficient accommodation at Greenwich, he took account of the availability of the former nurses home and the Dreadnought hospital, both of which are adjacent to the college and have been on the market for years.

Earl Howe

In considering the suitability of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich as a potential site for the Joint Service Command and Staff College, we took full account of the availability of the adjacent. Dreadnought Seamen's Hospital and the Devonport Nurses Home.