§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Property Services Agency took up the tenancy of a 55,000 sq ft office block in Grosvenor Road, Wrexham; how many of the five floors rented by it are still empty; what has been the cost to public funds of this; and whether the original tenancy was entered into in order to accommodate civil servants expected to administer a wealth tax.
§ Mr. MarksThe Property Services Agency has held the lease of this block since its completion in July 1977. It was originally intended to house a capital office. All the five floors are at present vacant but one is likely to be occupied shortly. Alternative uses are being considered for the remainder. So far the cost to public funds in rent is about £100,000.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the Property Services Agency took up the
Staff in post 1st April 1976 Staff in post 1st April 1977 Staff in post 1st April 1978 Target complement 1st April 1979 Science category … … … … 614 573 526 557 Industrials … … … … … 341 324 328 328 Other professional and technical staff … 107 95 88 94 Administrative staff … … … … 125 115 113 114 Others … … … … … … 137 126 117 111
§ Mr. Hooleyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reductions in the forward research programmes of the Building Research Establishment have been made arising from the imposition of cash limits.
480Wtenancies of (a) 44,920 sq. ft. of office space in Derby, (b) 38,300 sq. ft. in Solihull, (c) 55,750 sq. ft. in Stockport, and (d) 70,000 sq. ft. in Plymouth; whether any of this space has been filled and, if so, how much; what has been the cost to public funds of the unfilled space; and whether these tenancies were entered into to accommodate civil servants expected to administer a wealth tax.
§ Mr. MarksThe Property Services Agency took up the leases of the buildings at Derby, Stockport and Solihull in 1976. The Crown building at Plymouth is now nearing completion. Alternative uses have been found for all these buildings which were originally intended to house capital tax offices. The cost to public funds of rent paid for the periods during which parts of the buildings have stood empty is some £600,000.