HC Deb 09 March 1978 vol 945 cc753-4W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he

£ million
1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77
Capital expenditure on major construction and adaptation of Government offices (England and Wales) 19.0 19.2 22.0 37.9 43.3
Estimate rent* of net addition to the area of Government offices (Great Britain) 3.2 3. 6 5.9 7.7 9.5
* Assuming additional space was taken at average market rentals.

Mr. Weetch

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what plans the Property Services Agency has to build a new office block in Ipswich for Government personnel;

(2) what consultations the Property Services Agency has had with the Ipswich Borough Council and with the Suffolk County Council, respectively, in connection with a possible application for new office space in Ipswich;

(3) what account the Property Services Agency takes of whether existing occupied housing will have to be demolished before it decides to proceed with an application for new office space.

Mr. Marks

The Property Services Agency has no firm plans; but discussions have taken place with Ipswich Borough Council about the possibility of acquiring a suitable site in Ipswich for the construction of a new office building will list the private accommodation used by the Prime Minister at No. 10 Downing Street; and when he and his family availed themselves of this accommodation for the longest and most convenient period of time.

Mr. Marks

All the accommodation at No. 10 Downing Street is for the use of the Prime Minister, as First Lord of the Treasury, as he thinks fit.