§ Baroness Anelay of St Johnsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress they have made in their plans to reassign the use of those parts of Osborne House which were previously used as a convalescent home under the terms of the Osborne Estate Acts 1902 and 1914; and. [HL3779]
With regard to the provision by the Osborne Estates Acts 1902 and 1914 that a s a memorial to Her late Majesty the Government shall devote the rest of Osborne House and the grounds under their management to be used for the benefit of officers of His Majesty's naval and military forces or their wives, widows or family, what was the legal advice upon which Dr Howells, Minister of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, based his assetion that "I do not believe that that is the law on the matter" (HC Deb 25 March, column, 548) [HL3780]
§ The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Baroness Blackstone)The Osborne Estates Acts 1902 and 1914 provide for the parts of the House in the personal occupation of Queen Victoria to be kept open to the public and the rest of the House and grounds to be used for the benefit of the Armed Forces and Civil Service. They do not provide explicitly for a convalescent home.
We are currently considering with English Heritage a range of options for that part of Osborne House which was formerly used as a convalescent home. These include using the lower floors to enhance visitors' appreciation of the house and the estate; using the upper floors for holiday lets and conferences and opening the gardens previously restricted to convalescent home use. English Heritage is undertaking external repairs to the property which it estimates will be complete by December 2003.