§ Lord Sefton of Garstonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What was the final cost of removal of unnecessary structures, equipment and fittings from the site now occupied by MI6 at Vauxhall Bridge to suit the present incumbents.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)The latest figure for the costs of equipping the building at Vauxhall Cross is £81.2 million (at 1995–96 prices) as shown in the Cabinet Office departmental report. It is lower than the original estimate of £90 million given to the noble Lord by my noble friend the Lord Strathclyde, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment, on 8 June 1992 (Official Report, col. WA 73). For security reasons it would be wrong to give any further breakdown of the costs. The Comptroller and Auditor-General and the National Audit Office will have full access to the details of the project.