HC Deb 11 June 2003 vol 406 c862W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the Church Commissioners if he will make a statement on the proposed closure of the library at York Minster. [118482]

Mr. Bell

I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 4 June 2003 to the hon. Member for the City of York (Hugh Bayley), from which she will note that the library does not belong to the Church Commissioners.

The sale, loan or other disposal of any item of architectural, archaeological, artistic interest would require approval under the Care of Cathedrals Measure. This is a statutory process and I would not wish to prejudge whatever decision might be made either by the Fabric Advisory Committee or by the Cathedrals Fabric Commission on any such application.