§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what is his estimate of the annual cost to his Department and his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies of their empty and under-used properties for(a) 1995–96 and (b) 1996–97. [11506]
§ Mr. WillettsUntil 1 April 1996, responsibility for Cabinet Office empty and under-used property on the common user estate falls to Property Holdings Division of DoE.
For the years in question, there has been no vacant space within Nos. 10 to 12 Downing street or the central Cabinet Office estate in London. Over this period, only HMSO had empty or under-used departmental estate. The costs were as follows:
- 1979: Not available
- 1989: Nil
- 1991: Nil
- 1993: £137,300
- 1994: £252,800
- 1995: £88,700
- 1996: £34,825 (January-March).
After 1 April 1996, responsibility for Cabinet Office property on the CUE will fall to the Department. It is forecast that the estimated cost to the Cabinet Office of empty and under-used properties in 1996–97 will be £2,035,739, consisting of HMSO; Crown buildings, Basingstoke; and Leatherhead road, Chessington: