§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health 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-utilised properties for(a) 1979–80, (b) 1989–90, (c) 1991–92, (d) 1993–94, (e) 1994–95, (f) 1995–96 and (g) 1996–97. [11538]
§ Mr. HoramThe buildings occupied by the Department of Health and its agencies formed part of the Government civil estate and then, from 1990, the Government common user estate. Vacant space has been the responsibility of Property Services Agency for the civil estate, then Property Holdings for the common user estate. From 1 April 1996, Departments take over responsibility for the vacant space in their buildings on the common user estate.
The estimated annual cost to the Department of Health, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies of their empty and under-utilised properties is £200,000 in 1991–92, £200,000 in 1993–94 and £910,000 in 1996–97. The increase in 1996–97 reflects the transfer of responsibility for vacant space from property holdings to the Department.