§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the building work for the new assembly building will(a) begin and (b) finish; and what will be the total cost. [40590]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe precise timescale for the construction of the Assembly and the precise costs will be affected by the outcome of the design competition, which I am to launch shortly.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total cost to his Department of conducting the Assembly bids. [40608]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI refer the hon Member to the reply I gave him on 14 January 1998,Official Report, column 215.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of refurbishment of Crickhowell House temporarily to house the Assembly. [40609]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe costs of adapting the building, and relocating staff, are not expected to exceed £1 million.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what will be the cost to this Department of(a) road building and (b) other infrastructure building which will service the new Assembly building. [40588]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe PFI signed on 28 April between Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and Citylink will include construction of Bute Square and Bute Avenue. This infrastructure will meet the CBDC's key objective of linking Cardiff city centre with the waterfront and will provide important road access to developments within the Inner Harbour. However, the design of the Avenue which has formed the basis of the negotiations with Citylink, is not related in any way to the decision on the location of the National Assembly building and no costs arise for the PFI in the light of that decision.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost to establish and operate, over four years, the network of the Welsh Assembly to all parts of Wales. [40610]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesDecisions on the details of the network in Wales to support the National Assembly will be worked out in partnership with the Welsh local300W authorities, the National Library of Wales and other interested bodies. It is not possible to provide an estimate of costs at this time.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the cost of the pierhead building in Cardiff, separately identifying the running costs for four years; [40607]
(2) what is the estimated running cost of Crickhowell House over its first four years as part of the assembly estate. [40587]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesI will write to the hon. Member, as soon as possible and place a copy of my reply in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much his Department will pay, over how many years, and for what purpose, of the £120 million package PFI announcement for the Welsh Assembly. [40589]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe Heads of Agreement signed on 28 April between Cardiff Bay Development Corporation and Citylink is based on construction of Bute Square and Bute Avenue at an estimated cost including land of £45 million. There is associated private sector investment in commercial development of 360,000 sq ft and over 300 homes with an assumed combined capital value of over £75 million.
In addition to construction of Bute Square and Bute Avenue, the PFI overall will also make provision for maintenance of the Square and the Road to agreed standards over the 25-year contract period, further land acquisition and works preparatory to development.
We estimate that the total public sector cost will be no more than £5 million per annum in real terms for up to 25 years, a maximum present value of £57 million.