§ Mr. ViggersTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total anticipated cost of the Abbey Wood Office complex at Filton, Bristol; what sis the expected occupancy and the expected date of occupation; and how much has been spent so far on the construction of the complex.
§ Mr. AitkenThe estimated words cost of the new procurement executive headquarters at Abbey Wood, North Bristol, inclusive of site acquisition, construction, fitting out, professional works management and VAT is £255.4 million at 1993–94 prices. Within this sum £35.2 million has been spent to date on site acquisition, management, and preparatory works with a further £1.04 million contractually committed.
The new site is being designed to accommodate some 4,800 procurement executive staff, together with service logistic support experts and other personnel, giving a total site population of 5,500. Occupancy is planned to start in autumn 1995 and complete by autumn 1996.
When completed in 1996, collocation at Abbey Wood will produce running cost savings amounting to some £40 million a year; it is also a key element in our strategy to reduce PE HQ manpower by 25 per cent., yielding further savings of about £35 million a year.