§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will consider locating the new Southern health and social services board offices in Newry or Armagh; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will name the sites investigated by the Southern health and social services board in Newry Town and Armagh;
(3) to what extent the accommodation space being proposed by the Southern health and social services board at Portadown is in excess of present staff needs; and if he will make a statement.
(4) what is the proposed capital expenditure by the Southern health and social services board for new premises; and how many staff are to be accommodated;
(5) if he will indicate the estimated revenue consequences of the new building at Portadown for the Southern health and social services board.
§ Mr. Needham[holding answers 1 December 1987]: The Southern health and social services board have made proposals for new headquarters premises in Craigavon costing £1.94 million with estimated revenue consequences of £163,000 per annum. The premises will accommodate approximately 140 professional and administrative staff and the level of provision proposed is the minimum required for this number. The board investigated sites at the former prison in Armagh and Towerhill hospital but no sites were investigated in Newry since one of the criteria used for selecting possible sites was that they should be central to the board's area.
638WNo decision has yet been made on the board's proposals and I will bear the hon. Gentleman's comments in mind when I consider the project.