Mr. J. Enoch Powellasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the annual total cost of insuring Government property in Northern Ireland; and what is the justification for doing so in this part of the United Kingdom only.
§ Mr. David Mitchell[pursuant to his reply,20 October 1982, c.142]: Government offices and their contents in Northern Ireland are not insured commercially. But for some years it has been found more efficient and economic to so insure the fleet of cars operated by the Department of Environment for Northern Ireland, and certain items of engineering plant such as lifts and boilers in government offices.
In addition the Department of Economic Development effects through the market insurance for its commercial and industrial properties and recoups the cost of premiums from the lessees. This is more cost effective than requiring tenants to effect insurance and checking that the requirement has been met.
The estimated total costs of insuring these items in 1982–83 is in the region of £1.3 million of which almost £0.7 million will be recouped from lessees of commercial and industrial properties.