§ Sir Eldon Griffithsasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he received his officials' report on the occupancy audit of the Property Services Agency 's eastern region area office at Newmarket; if he will make known its conclusions to the House; if, before authorising action to be taken on these and other recommendations relating to the government offices in Newmarket and Cambridge, he will evaluate the benefits of transferring still more functions out of congested high price areas into more easily accessible and less expensive accommodation; and if he will make it his policy to release for the private development of houses, high-tech business premises and university research facilities all or most of the under-utilised land owns in the Eastern region.
§ Mr. ChopeOccupancy audits are independent checks on the efficient use of accommodation. The audit of PSA's eastern region area office, Newmarket, was carried out in April-May 1987. My officials' are considering its conclusions which relate only to internal office moves to improve space utilisation.
719WMy ministerial colleagues and I will continue to look critically at the Government estate in the eastern region, as elsewhere, to ensure that Departments retain no more land than is necessary to carry out their functions.