Departments A to D/Astronomy, 1997-03-01 - 1999-03-01

Copy of a May 1997 Cost Benchmarking Exercise document submitted to PPARC about the Future Management of the Royal Observatories, a copy of documents confirming that the ROE would remain under the ownership of PPARC, and a copy of a July 1997 Report of the Council Panel on the Future Management of the Royal Observatories. Correspondence about the possible acquisition of the Blackford Hill site, and about the opening of the UK Astronomy Technology Centre at ROE by Lord Sainsbury, Minister for Science, on 23 October 1998. Also includes correspondence about an agreement between PPARC and the University to transfer Wide Field Astronomy and Photolabs activity to the University.