§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health for how many former community health council premises which are empty, payments for(a) leases, (b) rent, (c) rates and (d) security costs are still being made; [149762]
(2) what the estimated cost is of (a) maintaining and (b) securing empty community health council premises until alternative uses have been found. [149763]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonThere are currently 96 vacant community health council offices and the estimated cost for rent, rates, services and security is £1.62 million per annum. A number of these premises are under offer or are awaiting sale or assignment to other bodies, including national health service organisations, and the position will change as these progress.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost was of abolishing community health councils. [149776]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonIt is not possible to give the exact costs for abolishing community health councils (CHCs). We have estimated the running costs for CHCs from 1 April to 1 December 2003 and for a residual period up to March 2004 at £15 million. Additionally, redundancy costs are estimated at £14.9 million and the estimated costs for rent, rates, servicing and security of vacant CHC offices is £1.62 million per annum. A number of these premises are under offer or are awaiting sale or assignment to other bodies, including national health service organisations, and the position will change as these progress.