§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the property costs, including rent, asset replacement and rates of his Department in total, in each standard both in total and per square foot for each year since 1983.
§ Mr. Peter LloydSince 1 April 1984 the Department has paid most of its property costs to the Property Services Agency of the Department of the Environment. This payment, known as the accommodation charge, consists of rent, rates, retained maintenance and administration. The rent figures quoted include opportunity cost rents determined by the Property Services Agency. The Department has direct responsibility for certain minor works, maintenance, and internal redecoration. Expenditure for these items has been included in the total accommodation costs figure shown in the table.
Up to March 1988 expenditure for new construction and other major capital works was the responsibility of the Property Services Agency. From April 1988 responsibility has been divided between the Department and the Property Services Agency but expenditure figures for 1988–89 are not yet available. These costs are therefore not included in the table. Information prior to 1 April 1984 is not available except at disproportionate cost.
employed by his Department was carried out; and what plant and equipment asset replacement charges are incurred by his Department.
73W
§ Mr. Peter LloydUnder the rules of Government accounting the Department operates cash-based systems which enable Parliament to be satisfied that amounts of cash voted to be spent on certain activities have been so spent. There has therefore been no need to maintain comprehensive up-to-date valuations of plant and equipment, the purchase cost of which is tightly controlled through the cash accounting system and plant and equipment asset charges are not entered in the accounts.