§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many empty buildings his Department currently owns; what is the cost of insuring and securing these buildings; how many were designed as residential properties; and what was the total amount spent by his Department on empty property taxes in each of the last five years. [14573]
§ Mr. BoswellThe Ministry owns or leases 45 empty buildings. Most of these are surplus storage depots in the process of being sold. However, five were designed as, and still are, residential properties, but these are either due for disposal or awaiting new tenants.
The Ministry does not insure its buildings; as a general rule the Government carry their own insurance risk.
The Ministry does not pay uniform business rates to local authorities. Instead contributions in lieu of rates—CILOR—are paid to the Inland Revenue's Crown property unit. The amounts paid in the last three years in respect of empty properties are set out below.
- 1993–94: £7,403
- 1994–95: £57,208
- 1995–96: £53,194
The 1991–92 and 1993–94 CILOR payments, any reduced community charge/council tax on empty dwellings and the costs of securing empty property could be identified only at disproportionate cost.