§ Sir Patrick McNair-WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what the responsibilities of her Department will be for the maintenance of the royal naval college, Greenwich when the Ministry of Defence has left the site. [41193]
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMy Department is currently responsible for the maintenance of the external fabric of the royal naval college buildings together with the maintenance, including the interiors, of the painted hall and chapel. When the Ministry of Defence vacates the buildings, my Department will continue to contribute to the funding of these maintenance responsibilities. The level of funding and duration will be a matter for 909W agreement between the Department and the trust which is being established to take over the main lease on the buildings. I would expect the taxpayer's contribution to reduce as the trust generates income to meet the costs of maintenance. My Department will remain concerned to ensure that the buildings are maintained to a standard appropriate to their status.