§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of Stale for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual rent of the hemicycle building rented by the European Parliament in Brussels; how often the Parliament met there in 1993; and how often it will meet there in 1994.
§ Mr. David DavisThe European Parliament does not rent the hemicycle, which is part of a building in the Espace Leopold complex. In 1992, the European Parliament signed a contract for a long lease on a complex of three buildings to be constructed, with an option to purchase. The total estimated investment cost under the contract is approximately 1 billion ecu£775 million,—before amortisation. The lease on each building is to run 27 years from the date of its handover. For the first 20 years of the lease on each building, Parliament has to pay, in 20 equal annuities and by half-yearly instalments, the amount necessary to amortise the final investment cost over that period. For the final seven years of each lease, the European Parliament will pay 1 ecu per year. The annual budget payment for the building containing the hemicycle is 13.9 mecu—£10.5 million.
The European Parliament met there three times in 1993, and will meet there four times in 1994.
§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what will be the rental of the new building being rented in Strasbourg by the European Parliament.
§ Mr. David DavisThe European Parliament signed a contract with the city of Strasbourg authorities on 31 March 1994 for a new complex on a similar basis with option to purchase to the Espace Leopold complex in Brussels. The annual cost is estimated at 46 mecu–00A3;34.7 million—which is planned to start fully in 1998.