§ Sir Nicholas FairbairnTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the(a) original estimated cost and (b) actual cost of (i) the new courts and offices in Parliament house, Edinburgh, (ii) the proposed new Scottish Office building in Leith and (iii) the cost of moving thereto and moving other Government Departments into the offices so vacated in St. Andrew's house.
§ Mr. Lang[holding answer 25 October 1993]: The estimated cost at tender stage of the extension to Parliament house was £14.16 million. The estimated final cost is in the range £15.5 million to £16 million. This takes account of inflationary costs allowed under the contract, covers significant foundation difficulties experienced during construction and an increase in VAT during the contract, and includes an allowance for a contractual claim which is under negotiation with the main contractor.
The new building for the Scottish Office in Leith is being acquired by Property Holdings from the developers for a fixed price of £47.5 million. The rental which the Scottish Office will pay to Property Holdings for the new building will represent a saving on rental payable on three buildings which are being given up including New St. Andrew's house, which is being vacated because of the widespread incidence of asbestos there.
The capital costs associated with the new building which will fall to the Scottish Office cover occupational 832W service works and furniture and are estimated at £9.8 million. The cost of moving staff from existing buildings to the new building is estimated to be £0.1 million.