§ Mr. RaynsfordTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 27 October 1992,Official Report, columns 539–40, what has been the total cost incurred, including rent, insurance, maintenance and. security, on the former DTI premises in Victoria street, between the date they were vacated in September 1991 and the present; when he expects the building contract on these premises to commence; and what is his estimate of the costs to be met for the duration of the building contract.
§ Mr. BaldryIn my answer of 27 October last at column539–40, I advised that the property was vacated in September 1991 and that the weekly cost of holding it vacant is £40,000. It is a relatively simple calculation to determine that this totals £2.6 million to the end of 1992.
Negotiations have still to be finalised and it is not possible to say when the building contract will commence or what the costs will be during the programme of 24 months for the refurbishment.