§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how long Bilsborrow Hall, Preston, was left empty and unused after its acquisition by his Department for use as lodgings for circuit judges; whether it is now in use; what price was paid for it; and what the interest charges on this sum 36W were at 12 per cent. interest rate during the period of non-use.
§ Mr. KaufmanBilsborrow Hall was purchased for £100,000 in January 1973 in the time of the last Conservative administration. High Court judges first took up residence on 14th April 1975. During the intervening period, adaptation work and minor repairs were carried out. If the interest rate on the capital sum had been at 12 per cent. the charge for the 2¼. years in question would have been £29,203.