§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 6 February 2002,Official Report, column 943W, what the total area in square feet of all empty properties owned by (a) his Department, (b) his agencies and (c) other public bodies for which he has had responsibility was in each year since May 1997. [37916]
§ Mr. LeslieInformation requested, covering 1997–98 to 2000–01 (inclusive), is as follows.
778W
Square feet 1997–98 179,000 1998–99 292,000 1999–2000 292,000 2000–01 160,000 With one exception, which is the subject of a forthcoming PFI, all buildings were surplus to the Department's requirements and were in the process of being disposed.
779WNotes:
1. The figures are for the "core" of the Department as none of its agencies, nor non-departmental public bodies have owned any empty properties.
2. Excluded from the figures is the project, commenced in 1998–99, to refurbish three vacant buildings. The first of these (Admiralty Arch) was completed and occupied by staff in 2000–01. When the other two buildings (Kirkland House and the Ripley Building) are completed in 2002–03, they will form 22 Whitehall; one of the Department's major buildings.