§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, when the Richmond house building was planned, it was intended to accommodate all Department of Health and Social Security staff; how much office space is currently unoccupied in the Richmond house building; and what is the total estimate cost of building, furnishing and equipping the Richmond house building.
§ Mr. ChopeA Government office building on the Richmond yard site has been planned for many years. Plans for a completely new building were rejected by a public inquiry in the realy 1970s. Successive Governments have since accepted the principle recommended by the inquiry that the facade and some rooms of Richmond terrace should be preserved with a modern office building constructed behind.
The decision to proceed was taken in 1978 and preliminary contracts were commissioned in 1979 and later years. The main management contract was placed in 1983. The building was designed to be suitable for use by any Government Department. It was allocated to the Department of Health and Social Security in April 1987 to accommodate the Department's Ministers and those staff who are needed in frequent and immediate support of Ministers. Richmond house is fully occupied.
The final cost of the building will depend on settlement of the final account, including claims still being negotiated.
Further work to meet the particular requirements of the occupying departments, together with the furnishing and equipping of the building, is their own responsibility.