HC Deb 16 May 1988 vol 133 cc297-8W
Mr. Michael

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what sites have been disposed of by the British Steel Corporation in each of the last five years; what number of acres in each region have been disposed of(a) as a result of direction by a Government Minister and (b) without such a direction; and what proportion of such disposals went to (i) development corporations, (ii) BSC (Industry) Ltd., (iii) local enterprise agencies, (iv) local authorities, (v) other public bodies, or (vi) private bodies or companies.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 29 April 1988]: The main sites sold by BSC over the last five years are as follows:

  • 1983–84
    • 611 acres, Shotton
    • Part of Normanby Park Works, Scunthorpe
    • 110 acres, Dudley Works
  • 1984–85
    • 39.5 acres Butchersfield, Warrington
    • Bilston Works
  • 1985–86
    • Stockholding Warehouse, Hounslow
  • 1986–87
    • Monks Hall Works, Warrington
  • 1987–88
    • 378 acres, Normanby Park Works, Scunthorpe
    • London Works, Tipton
    • 150 acres, Irlam
    • Mill Buildings and site (21 acres), Jarrow

No sites have been sold as a result of the direction by a Government Minister. It is not possible to identify the proportions of disposals to the various bodies mentioned because BSC does not record the purchasers in this specific manner. All disposals are made on the same basis of arm's length transactions at open market value.

Mr. Michael

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will list those sites which are in the ownership of the British Steel Corporation but are(a) no longer in operational use or (b) projected to be surplus to operational requirements during the next five years; and if he will give an estimate of the acreage of such sites by region.

Mr. Atkins

[holding answer 29 April 1988]: Properties which are identified by the corporation as being surplus to operational requirements are offered for sale at open market value. BSC does not make projections of sites likely to become surplus to requirements: this is obviously dependent on operational and strategic decisions.

The sites at present on the market include:

  • 775 acres agricultural land Twywell Estate Northants
  • Remaining Steelworks buildings, Corby
  • 36 acres industrial land, Holwell
  • 19 acres industrial land, Kettering
  • Warehouse, Swinton
  • Two farms, near Llanwern
  • Quarry, Scunthorpe
  • 23 acres industrial land, Rotherham
  • 6.5 acres industrial land, Bassaleg

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