§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what alternative uses are proposed for the unused office premises secured by his Department on behalf of the Treasury in Stockton and Wrexham for wealth tax purposes.
§ Mr. MarksThe Property Services Agency is actively pursuing a number of possible uses for this accommodation. Part of the building at Wrexham is shortly to be occupied by staff of the Department of Health and Social Security. One building at Stockton—Bay Heath House—has been allocated to the Departments of Employment Trade and Inland Revenue.
§ Mr. Barry JonesThe information is not available in precisely the form requested. The following table shows pupil-teacher ratios in September 1977, the latest date for which figures are available:
the lease of premises at Stockton and Wrexham for wealth tax purposes before legislation had been presented to the House.
§ Mr. MarksThe Government may, exceptionally, need to authorise the Property Services Agency to enter into commitments before legislation is laid or debated so that the necessary accommodation can be provided in time. My right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury announced this in a Written Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 13th March 1975 and a Supplementary Estimate was subsequently approved.—[Vol. 888, c.214–5.]
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why his Department secured office premises at Stockton and Wrexham for wealth tax purposes when the Select Committee on Wealth Tax convened recommended that the Government Green Paper proposals should not be accepted.
§ Mr. MarksThe Property Services Agency secured these premises following an announcement by my right hon. Friend the Member for Thornaby (Mr. sury in a Written Answer to my hon. Friend the member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth) on 20th May 1975 that offices for the administration of capital taxes would be opened in eight locations, including Stockton and Wrexham.—[Vol 892, c.334–5.]
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for the Environment why the Government premises at Stockton and Wrexham 611W have remained vacant for a period of up to two years without alternative use being found for the office accommodation with in a reasonable time.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury's reply to the hon. Member for Thornaby (Mr. Wrigglesworth), Official Report, regarding new premises for a proposed wealth tax, when it was decided not to proceed with the proposals for Sheffield and Worthing; when that change of policy was announced to the House; whether any abortive expenditure was incurred in that period; and, if so, how much.
§ Mr. MarksThe decision not to proceed with the introduction of a wealth tax in the life of this Parliament was stated by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to the hon. Member for Plymouth, Drake (Miss Fookes) on 29th November 1976. No accommodation for capital tax purposes had by that time been taken by the Property Services Agency of my Department at Sheffield and Worthing. There was minimal abortive expenditure on staff time.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of civil servants currently accommodated, or now intended to be accommodated, in the originally proposed capital tax office in Stockton-on-Tees; and for what purpose the building is intended to be used, now that the original use has been changed.
§ Mr. MarksThere are two buildings in Stockton formerly intended to be capital tax offices. Bayheath House is now occupied by 66 staff of the Department of Employment who will shortly be joined by 44 Inland Revenue staff. Daryl House is presently unoccupied; its alternative use is under active review.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total number of civil servants currently accommodated, or now intended to be accommodated, in the originally proposed 612W capital tax office in Edinburgh; and for what purpose the building is intended to be used, now that the original use has been changed.
§ Mr. MarksThe building is occupied by 181 Inland Revenue staff. This number is intended to increase to 209.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total square footage of office space vacated, or intended to be vacated, by civil servants moving into the building in Edinburgh which was originally intended to be a capital tax office; and whether the space vacated has been sold off or the lease has expired.
§ Mr. Marks27,574 sq. ft., including 25,074 sq. ft. which have been re-allocated to meet the needs of other Government Departments and 2,500 sq. ft. which is to be surrendered.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total square footage of the leased accommodation which has been surrendered as a result of the Crown Building in Plymouth becoming part of the Land Registry.
§ Mr. MarksThe space being occupied at the Crown Building in Plymouth by the Land Registry is largely to meet a new requirement but 1,500 sq. ft. of leased accommodation has been surrendered so far.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the proposed square footage of the now cancelled building in Plymouth originally intended for the Land Registry; when the original proposal to build it was announced; what and when was the civil estimate approving it; when the decision was announced to cancel it; whether working drawings had been prepared, or tender lists drawn up; and what was the abortive cost of the planning and internal administration work.
§ Mr. Marks85,000 sq. ft. The requirement for the building was first stated by the Land Registry in November 1972, but outline planning consent was not sought until July 1975. The decision to cancel the project was announced in July 1977. Confidential budget offers were 613W invited and received from three firms but no working drawings were prepared. The planning and administration work carried out by the Property Services Agency, including the site search, cost about £18,000.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total square footage of office space in Stockton-on-Tees leased by the Property Services Agency and originally intended for a capital tax office; when the lease took effect; for how long the building stood empty; how much, if any, has so far been filled; and what has been the cost to public funds to date of this unfilled space.
§ Mr. MarksBayheath House and Daryl House have areas of 24,536 and 41,103 sq ft respectively. Both were leased from 29th September 1976. Bay-heath House was vacant from 29th September 1976 to December 1977, and Daryl House from 29th September 1976 to date. 9,255 sq ft of Bayheath House are currently occupied and a further 10,160 sq ft will be occupied shortly. The amount of expenditure to date on rent in a particular location is confidential between the lessor and the Department.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total square footage of office space vacated, or intended to be vacated, by civil servants moving into the building in Stockton-on-Tees which was originally intended to be a capital tax office; and whether the space vacated has been sold off or the lease has expired.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total square footage of office space at 16–20 Picardy Place, Edinburgh, leased by the Property Services Agency and originally intended for a capital tax office, and the Scottish estate duty office; when the lease took effect; for how long the building, or part of it, stood empty; how much, if any, has so far been filled; and what has been the cost to public funds to date of this unfilled space.
614W
§ Mr. Marks34,743 sq ft, leased from January 1976. The building was vacant for two years, partly on account of fire damage, but is now fully occupied. Public expenditure to date is mainly confined to rent which, for a particular location, is confidential between the Property Services Agency of the Department and the lessor.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, pursuant to the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner), Official Report, 13th March 1975, columns 214–15, that expenditure for acquiring Civil Service office premises for a wealth tax would be authorised initially by the Contingencies Fund pending a Supplementary Estimate, he will now name by title, vote, class and date the Supplementary Estimate involved, including the date on which it was approved by the House, and the sum involved; and whether the outturn expenditure was covered fully by the estimate.
§ Mr. MarksIt was not necessary to draw on the Continegncies Fund. A token Supplementary Estimate of £1,000 on Vote 14.1, Office and General Accommodation Services, Subhead A3, 1975–76 was presented to obtain parliamentary approval to this new service on 10th July, included in the Supply Resolution on 22nd July, and in the Appropriation Act which received Royal Assent on 1st August 1975. The outturn expenditure was fully covered by the increased estimate.
Subsequent expenditure was included in estimates for this Vote under the appropriate subheads in the normal way.