Mr. Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to receive advice from the special panel he constituted to
consider the future of Greenwich hospital.[23540]
Mr. Portillo: In answer to the hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Clifton-Brown) on 19 December, Official Report,
column 1107, I announced that I had invited a group of distinguished experts to advise me on the expressions of interest in, and on
the future use and management of, the Royal Naval college, Greenwich, which I hold for the benefit of the Crown charity, Greenwich
hospital. The advisory group has submitted its interim report. I am most grateful to its members for the way in which they have
addressed the issues so far. I am placing in the Libraries of both Houses copies of the report, amended only to protect matters of
commercial confidentiality.
Much detailed work remains to be done to secure the future of the site, but, with the support of my right hon. Friends the
Secretaries of State for National Heritage and for the Environment--the latter as Minister with responsibility for London--I am
pleased to be able to announce that I have accepted the central recommendations of the advisory group that, in the event of
non-defence occupancy of the Royal Naval college:
the head lease on the site should go to an independent trust charged with preserving its architectural and historic integrity, with
the proper maintenance of the buildings and with ensuring public access. Such a trust would need to have regard also to the wider
site for which the Government intend to secure world heritage status from UNESCO. I would also expect it to pay particular regard to
the College's historical associations with the Royal Navy. I have invited the advisory group to give further consideration tot he
issues which will need to be resolved to enable such a trust to be established.
on the information provided so far, the university of Greenwich appears to be the most appropriate contender to be the main occupant
of the site, with the national maritime museum enjoying the use of certain parts. We shall be inviting those organisations to refine
their proposals for occupation of the Royal Naval college.
I have also accepted the recommendation that the Trafalgar quarters, currently occupied by the staff colleges, should be converted
by Greenwich hospital to provide sheltered accommodation for retired seafarers and their wives or widows. It seems particularly
appropriate that a part of the site should be applied to one of the central purposes in the Crown charity's founding charter of
1694.
To carry forward the recommendations in the report, new powers are required and I shall seek them in the Armed Forces Bill. The
Minister of State for the Armed Forces has advised the Select Committee considering the Bill of my intention to table an amendment,
whereby I can be empowered to balance the wider interests of the heritage of the site with my responsibilities towards Greenwich
hospital.
I am grateful to those organisations and individuals who have contributed to the debate so far on the future of the Royal Naval
college. I am conscious that my announcement will be a disappointment to some who indicated an expression of interest, but whose
proposal will not be considered further.
The Government are determined that the future use of the Royal Naval college should be one worthy of the magnificent site, and in
the best interests of the Greenwich hospital and the nation.
I will keep the House informed of developments.