§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many kilometres of road have been completed in Port Stanley town; and at what cost.
§ Mr. RaisonThis task is the responsibility of the Director of Public Works on Port Stanley. The information available in London on work to date is as follows:
Expenditure to 31 May £ Plant, materials, contractor's camp, freight insurance 1,353,000 Labour 259,000 Management 68,000 Local costs 140,000 Total 1,820,000 Estimated expenditure in June 184,000 Estimated expenditure in July 94,000 Main tasks completed to date include:
Hebe Street Resurfacing, relocation of services, replacement of kerbs and footpaths, Total area 1491 square metres. Ross Road Slab replacement at half width covering 122 square metres. Base work and grade preparation on the 430-metre long Snake Hill.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the hostel for schoolchildren to be available in Port Stanley; and what alternative arrangements are envisaged before completion.
§ Mr. RaisonThe Falkland Islands Government made adequate temporary accommodation arrangements for schoolchildren in Port Stanley for the 1983 academic year. No final decision has yet been made on the form of permanent arrangements or the possible extension of temporary arrangements.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated completion cost of Brewster houses in Port Stanley; and how much in excess of tender this is.
§ Mr. RaisonJames Brewster Associates originally submitted a tender of £2,133,570 for the supply, erection, fitting and furnishing of 27 houses. Before the contract was let, it became necessary for the Government to take responsibility for all shipping to the islands under rehabilitation arrangements. The tender, less shipping costs, amounted to £1,708,570. Based on this tender, a contract for 54 houses was eventually let at £3,668,545.
The contractor has submitted claims in respect of extra costs caused primarily by delays in shipping and port handling. If met in full, these claims would increase the 676W contract value to £4,018,545. Taking account of the estimated final costs for shipping, site preparation and provision of local services, the project cost is estimated at £7.1 million.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what current rate of occupation is envisaged for Brewster houses in Port Stanley.
§ Mr. RaisonThe allocation and occupation of all Government housing in Port Stanley are matters for the Falkland Islands Government's housing committee.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the contracted Brewster houses in Port Stanley to be completed.
§ Mr. RaisonThe last estimate from the contractor suggested completion by mid-October. I understand that recent weather conditions and problems with equipment may set this further back.
§ Mr. Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what standard the airport road between Port Stanley and the airport will be completed and to what time scale.
§ Mr. RaisonIf my hon. Friend is referring to the existing airport, contractors were engaged to keep the road serviceable through the current winter season pending the choice of site for the new airfield. Now that that decision has been settled, the specification for the permanent remaking of the Stanley airport road will shortly be settled in the light of future traffic projections. In respect of the road which will link Port Stanley to the new airfield, the specification and construction timetable will be defined on the basis of the needs of both my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and the Falkland Islands Government.