HC Deb 22 January 1993 vol 217 c440W
Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment how much it will cost to refurbish the Health and Safety Executive head office at Baynards House; what the cost would be of relocating staff to(a) east London, (b) Bootle or (c) any other new location away from London which has been considered; and if she will make it her policy that the refurbished building should meet the highest possible health and safety standards.

Mr. McLoughlin

The Health and Safety Executive is considering relocating its London head office in 1994, when the leases on its existing London headquarters buildings expire. A study of the scope for relocation out of London was carried out in 1988. This concluded that those headquarters functions based in London need to remain there. Various London options are now under consideration. Information on each of these and their costs is commercially sensitive and therefore confidential. Any building chosen will have to meet fully the standards of current health and safety legislation.

Mr. Bennett

To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what were the terms of reference of the study team on market testing in relation to the functions of the Health and Safety Commission and Executive; if she wilt list the members of the study team and their remuneration in each case; whether any members of the study team have outside interests inconsistent with this role; and what will be the total cost of the study.

Mr. McLoughlin

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State asked the Health and Safety Commission to consider the feasibility of applying market testing to those areas of the Health and Safety Executive's activities not covered by their existing market testing programme, but not including advice and assistance to the Commission.

A study is being undertaken by the director general of the Health and Safety Executive. The other members of the study team were a consultant from Touche Ross and an assistant secretary from HSE. The director general and the assistant secretary are remunerated at civil service rates. I regard the consultant's remuneration as commercial in confidence.

I am confident that there are no conflicts of interest involved. I cannot give the total cost because at this stage the eventual extent of the study is uncertain.