§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Lord PANNELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basis the leases for properties along Bridge Street have been renewed and what is the tenure of such leases for tenancies.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, DEPARTMENT of the ENVIRONMENT (Baroness Birk)My Lords, there are no leases at Bridge Street, only tenancies. All are business tenancies under the provisions of Part II of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954. The tenancies are all subject to six months' notice but are continuing under the provisions of the Act.
§ Lord PANNELLMy Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that reply, may I ask her to remember that there is a compulsory purchase order on these properties. May I also ask her whether her Department has any apprehension of the length of time for which these premises will be let for the purposes for which they are now being used?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, the tenancies have been renewed by the Department over a period of years on the same terms, except for rent, and they are subject to termination by six months' previous notice.
§ Lord HOUGHTON of SOWERBYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether she is aware that these premises ought not to be occupied by anybody, since they are not fit for occupation? May I further ask whether she has been in them lately, as I have? If she does go there, she will find on almost every door in this block a warning notice that the floors will not bear very much weight. I should like to ask my noble friend what is the use of a block of offices of that kind being let to anybody?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I know that some of them are in a bad state of repair, and for that reason I have not attempted to go into them. But, as I 1458 think my noble friend is aware, the point is that this matter is now before the authorities in another place and when they have come to a decision about the housing, of Members of Parliament or office staffs, then we can take some decision about it. We are well aware of the situation, which is why only minor sums of money can be spent on the premises at the moment.
§ Lord PANNELLMy Lords, the noble Baroness used the term "minor sums". In reply to a Question of mine last week she referred to a sum of over £2 million being spent for the benefit of Members of the other place in the old Norman Shaw building which, if I had had my way, would have been demolished.
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, as my noble friend knows, that was in order to rehabilitate the building and to make possible its use as offices. What I am saying is that the minor sums are only for immediate repairs until a decision has been reached on what is to be done with these premises.
Lord CHELWOODMy Lords, does the reply of the noble Baroness apply to security of tenure on both sides of Bridge Street?