§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the reasons why the Home Office has moved to take on alternative 863W or additional accommodation at Queen Anne's Gate; and what are the costs involved.
§ Mr. Marks:The decision to provide a new headquarters for the Home Office at 50 Queen Anne's Gate was taken in 1973 because its existing headquarters in part of the Old Public Offices had to be vacated for extensive modernisation and because the Home Office had a pressing need to be housed in fewer buildings. The new building is leased, and the cost of occupational works totalled about £2.8 million. It is not the practice to disclose details of rents, for commercial reasons, but the estimated running costs including rates are expected to be £1.5 million to £1.8 million per year.