§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what amount has already been spent on purchasing property on the site of the new parliamentary building.
§ Mr. ChannonAbout £4,500,000.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if the Government own the Norman Shaw North building of New Scotland Yard; if they recently acquired it how much they paid for it; and what is its estimated market value.
§ Mr. ChannonThe purchase of the Norman Shaw building by the Government from the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District was completed in March 1967 on figures agreed some time previously. The purchase formed part of a larger transaction and the amount apportioned to the Norman Shaw North building was £1.3 million. The unique character of this building makes it impossible to state an opinion of market value with any degree of certainty, but a preliminary estimate of its value in its present condition is of the order of £3.5 million to £4 million.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what 286W estimate has been made of the cost of repairs and alterations to, and modernisation of, the Norman Shaw North building for use by Members, including the costs of high-speed lifts and travelators necessary to make it possible for Members to get to the Chamber of the House of Commons within six minutes.
§ Mr. ChannonThe total estimated cost of repairs and alterations to, and modernisation of, the Norman Shaw North building for use by Members, including the provision of high-speed lifts, is about £1,940,000. In addition to building and engineering work, this includes £330,000 for furniture and fittings, £200,000 for a new subway under Bridge Street and a token £250,000 for fees. It would be possible when the lifts are installed for Members to reach the Chamber within six minutes, but this would be a minimum.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of relocating the existing Cannon Row Police Station.
§ Mr. ChannonThe estimated cost of adapting the Norman Shaw North building for police purposes is £3 million at end—1972 prices. No estimate of the cost of other possible solutions is available.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost of the construction works, fittings and furnishings of the new accommodation for Members above the Tea Room; and what is the total cost per square foot.
§ Mr. Channon£296,000, or about £31 a square foot. This excludes departmental staff and consultants' fees of approximately £44,000, which would take the cost to about £36 a square foot.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated cost of maintenance and repairs to the Bridge Street buildings on the site of the new parliamentary building if they were retained.
§ Mr. ChannonThe minimum cost of bringing these buildings into occupational order is about £1.5 million. This figure does not allow for any improvements, nor 287W is any estimate of annual maintenance costs available at present.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the annual maintenance costs of all accommodation outside the Palace of Westminster used by Members, officials and staff of the House of Commons.
§ Mr. ChannonAbout £12,000 a year.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount spent on alterations, extensions and improvements to all buildings housing Members, officials and other staff outside the Palace of Westminster in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. ChannonThe figures are as follows:
Year £ 1968–69 … … … … 1,125 1969–70 … … … … 24,100 1970–71 … … … … 8,000 1971–72 … … … … 400 1972–73 … … … … 5,200 This excludes the £68,000 spent on making 3 Dean's Yard available for Members by the end of 1972 as requested by the Services Committee.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current estimated cost of raising Bridge Street and providing a travelator link under it for use by Members to gain access to the Palace of Westminster from north of Bridge Street.
§ Mr. ChannonThe Greater London Council, which would carry out the Bridge Street work, has not yet furnished an estimate, but a token £500,000 has been included in our figures. A travelator would cost about £420,000.