Mr. W. E. Garrettasked the Secretary of State for Trade what arrangements the Government are making for providing the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation with new premises.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis:In fulfilment of our obligation under the Agreement with the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (Treaty Series No. 18 (1969)—Cmnd. 3964), to assist in the acquisition of premises, the Government intend to provide a new building to meet the organisation's requirements, which can no longer be met by their present premises. The capital cost, including the price of a site to be acquired on the Albert Embankment, is provisionally put at £22 million at 1977 prices. This expenditure will be spread over a number of years.
Since 1958 the Government have met 80 per cent. of the rent of the organisation's premises and the organisation has met the remainder. In the new building it is proposed that the organisation should contribute at a figure rising to 20 per cent. of the annual rental cost. This will be broadly in line with arrangements for international organisations in other host countries.
Parliamentary approval for expenditure in the current year (£4.1m.) will be sought in the Winter Supplementary Estimates for the Shipping Services Vote. The cash limit on Block DOT2 will be increased accordingly from £63 .8 million to £67 .9 million.
The Government welcome the settlement of this matter reached with other member countries of the organisation, whose work is of particular importance to Britain's maritime interests.