Written question asked by John Baron (Conservative) on Monday, 6 July 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 9 July 2009. It was answered by Dan Norris (Labour) on Monday, 13 July 2009 on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Barn Hall

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department have had discussions with their counterparts in the Department for Communities and Local Government on the contract of sale for Barn Hall, Wickford, Essex.

Answer: [holding answer 9 July 2009]: There has been no ministerial contact in respect of either the disposal of the former Horticultural Research Institute at Barn Hall or the planning application or subsequent planning determination. Likewise there has been no contact between officials.The only known contacts between departmental officials in connection with this matter were;"December 2008: DEFRA was approached by Department of Communities and Local Government to alert DEFRA to pleadings made by Basildon district council in their request for judicial review of the decision to grant planning permission. Department of Communities and Local Government indicated that officials could not enter into any discussions regarding the determination or application for judicial review and none were undertaken.""April 2009: Department of Communities and Local Government transferred a Freedom of Information request made by the hon. Gentleman on behalf of his constituent seeking a copy of the disposal contract to DEFRA, which has been made available."

Secondary information