§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the proposed sale of the half-finished building in Southport originally intended to be built as the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, including the building and administrative costs so far incurred by the Government before the sale, the price at which it is expected to sell off the part-completed building and the details of the arrangements that are being made for the sale.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergSite purchase, building and administration costs so far incurred are estimated at £1.6 million. Contract cancellation costs are still under negotiation. Agents have been instructed to arrange for the sale of the site by tender. Advertisements have been placed in the national and local press, and the tenders will be opened on 24 September. It would be wrong to anticipate the tenders by estimating a sale price.
§ Mr. Allan Robertsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if alternative uses for the proposed Office of Population Censuses and Surveys in Southport were considered before the work on the building was stopped and it was put up for sale.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergYes.