HC Deb 05 November 1975 vol 899 cc229-32W
Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much office space in square feet the Property Services Agency has rented on behalf of Government Departments in London and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, since March 1974; what is the total cost to the Exchequer; and what is the average cost per square foot in (a) London and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Crosland

During the period 1st April 1974 to 30th September 1975 the PSA, on behalf of Government Departments and their agencies, has entered into commitments to lease the following amounts of accommodation:

London:

Total area—881,000 sq. ft. at a cost of £7.3 million per annum. Average approximately £8.30 per sq. ft. per annum.

Remainder of UK:

Total area—2,945,000 sq. ft. at a cost of £597 million per annum. Average approximately £2 per sq. ft. per annum.

In the same period the Agency has surrendered the following:

London:

Total area—67,000 sq. ft. at a saving of £759,000. Average approximately £1.4 per sq. ft per annum.

Remainder of UK:

Total area—679,000 sq. ft. at a saving of £223,000. Average approximately £0.32 per sq. ft. per annum.

Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what construction of office space in square feet for Government Departments by the Property Services Agency has been started and at what cost since March 1974.

Mr. Freeson

The Property Services Agency has started construction on 2,007,908 sq. ft. gross of office space in England, Wales and Scotland since March 1974 at a total estimated cost of £54.35 million.

Mr. Raison

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much extra office accommodation has been used by his Department since March 1974 including offices for agencies for which his Department is responsible; and how much extra office accommodation his Department and agencies for which his Department is responsible expect to use for the rest of 1975 and 1976.

Mr. Crosland

All the information necessary to answer this Question is not readily available at this stage. I will write to the hon. Member shortly.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what construction of office space in square feet for the Welsh Office by the Property Services Agency has been started, and at what cost, since March 1974.

Mr. Armstrong

The construction of an office building to be jointly occupied by the Welsh Office and another Government Department was started by the Property Services Agency in April 1975. The total area of the building is 42,831 square metres and the total cost is approximately £16.9 million. No other new construction for the Welsh Office has been started in the relevant period.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many square feet of office space the Property Services Agency has rented on behalf of the Welsh Office in London, Cardiff and elsewhere since March 1974; and what is the total cost to the Exchequer and the average cost per square foot in (a) London, (b) Cardiff and (c) elsewhere.

Mr. Armstrong

The Property Services Agency has not rented any additional office space for the Welsh Office except in Cardiff, since March 1974. In Cardiff 11,700 sq. ft. of office space has been rented and the total cost to the Exchequer of this space is £11,000 per annum. The average annual rent of the accommodation is £1.20 per sq. ft.; some of the space was rented for part of a year only.

Mr. David Howell

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how much office space in square feet the Property Services Agency has rented on behalf of Government departments and their agencies in London and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, since March 1974; what is the total cost to the Exchequer; and what is the average cost per square foot in (a) London and (b) the rest of the United Kingdom;

(2) what construction of office space in square feet for Government departments and their agencies by the Property Services Agency has been started since March 1974; and at what cost.

Mr. Armstrong,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report 3rd November 1975; Vol. 899, c. 75], gave the following information:

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given today by my right hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Raison).