§ Mr. RoweTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many domestic properties are currently owned(a) by his Department, (b) by his Department's agencies and (c) by contractors working under his Department's directions; and what is the estimated value of this stock.
§ Mr. WattsAll domestic properties acquired in connection with my Department's activities are owned in the name of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport.
Day-to-day responsibility for properties purchased in connection with the trunk roads programme rests with the chief executive of the Highways Agency. At 1 March 1995 there were 4,038 such properties. The stock of properties held by the HA is being revalued on 1 April 1995 and I will write to my hon. Friend with this information as soon as it is available.
A further eight domestic properties are held, in the name of the Secretary of State, by the Coastguard Agency. These properties are currently being valued as part of an overall asset valuation being undertaken by the agency and expected to be concluded in April.
No properties are purchased by contractors on behalf of the Secretary of State.