§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list for each agency and the central Department for which he is responsible(a) the total amount of removal costs and associated expenses reimbursed to officials who were required to relocate as part of their employment, (b) the amount of each of the highest three claims that were concluded and settled and (c) the average amount of each claim in each of the last three years. [19667]
§ Mr. WaldegraveBecause relocation expenses in my Department are met from a centrally administered budget, it is not possible to provide information separately for the core Department and agencies except at disproportionate cost. However, total relocation costs paid in the last three financial years, including payment made to a relocation company which acts on behalf of the Department, amounted to £10,907,201. A significant part of this78W expenditure was incurred in order to relocate staff working in the London area to a new headquarters building in York and to achieve other organisational and structural changes in the Department and agencies. These projects will realise offsetting savings elsewhere in the Departmental running costs.
The three most expensive individual home moves, again including relocation company payments, cost £62,982, £66,204 and £71,873 respectively.
During the same period, the average cost of a home move is estimated as follows:-
- 1992–93: £20,500
- 1993–94: £22,500
- 1994–95: £22,500 (provisional)