HC Deb 15 July 1992 vol 211 cc844-5W
Mr. Gould

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the difference in cost between moving staff from Marsham street in 1994 rather than 1993; and if he will publish the value for money study carried out on the proposed move to docklands:

(2) what has been the cost, including consultancy fees, of the process of finding alternative accommodation for his Department; and what will be the final cost;

(3) pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks), of 9 July, Official Report, column 149, on redundancies arising from the demolition of the Marsham street building, if he will list the non-mobile grades; and if he will estimate the number and total costs of redundancies in each of those grades;

(4) by what date his Department has been recommended to vacate its current premises in Marsham street;

(5) what accommodation is available to relocate his Department on the Government estate;

(6) what estimate has been made of the cost of refurbishing Marsham street so that his Department can remain there;

(7) what estimate has been made of the comparative costs of remaining in Marsham street, moving to another location on the Government estate, moving to another building in Westminster or moving to docklands;

(8) how many buildings of more than 100,000 sq ft are available to rent (a) in Westminster, (b) in the City of London and (c) elsewhere in inner London;

(9) what accommodation other than that in docklands has been or is being considered as a possible location for his Department.

Mr. Howard

On 2 June, I announced,Official Report, column 707, that some 2,000 civil servants in my Department would move to docklands, subject to fully commercial terms giving value for money for the taxpayer. My advisers are continuing their consideration of accommodation in docklands, and further work is being undertaken by consultants and officials in my Department. I will make a further announcement in due course.