§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what debt the Property Services Agency left upon its disbandment; how much of that was owed to private companies; how much of that debt is still owed; if he will list the companies that have made representations to Her Majesty's Government asking to be paid; how much each one is currently owed; when, and by whom, he expects the debts to be fully paid off; and if he will make a statement. [16518]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordThe Property Services Agency ceased to exist on 31 March 1990, when its responsibilities were split between its successor organisations: PSA Services and Property Holdings. The operating activities of PSA Services were privatised or closed down over the period December 1992 to October 1993 and since then the remaining staff in PSA Services have been responsible for completing residual activities, including the personnel management of staff seconded to the privatised companies. Liability to pay works contractors generally transferred to client departments in the period prior to the sale of the PSAS businesses. Liability for outstanding payments to suppliers of services at the point of sale generally passed to the purchasers of the PSA Services businesses, while PSA Services retained liability for only a limited number of completed projects which were not sold. These cases are progressively being resolved. I would be happy to look into any specific problem that is brought to my attention.