HC Deb 20 February 1975 vol 886 cc515-6W
Sir Edward Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why there has been a delay in the occupation of Carpenter House, Broad Quay, Bath, scheduled for the Navy Department's Dockyard Section, which has remained empty since the Government leased it 18 months ago.

Mr. Kaufman

The lease on Carpenter House was taken in August 1973 to meet expansion of the Ministry of Defence staff in Bath. The Ministry of Defence cannot take possession until the building is partitioned internally and a telephone exchange has been installed. These works were delayed by serious problems, beyond the control of the Property Services Agency, over siting of the telephone exchange, and financial restrictions led to a further two months' postponement. Work on the installation of the telephone exchange finally began in September 1974. Other ingoing services such as partitioning will proceed in parallel and the building should be ready for occupation in September 1975.