§ Dr. Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, pursuant to his answer of 13 February,Official Report, column 479, if he will give the total cost to the common user (office) estate of service, security and other charges associated with empty Government buildings. [16003]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordProperty Holdings has kept a record of the overall costs of vacant accommodation on the common user estate since 1993–94. The figures are
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Estate Action Schemes—Newcastle (a) Number of dwelling units (b) Number of dwellings transferred Scheme Year Started (1) Cleared (2) Improved (3) Built (1) To Housing Association (1) To Other Leazes Estate 1987–88 0 30 0 0 0 Rye Hill Central 1987–88 60 70 0 0 0 N. Kenton Ph 3 1988–89 21 21 0 0 0 E. Garth, Newbiggen Hall 1988–89 0 80 0 64 343 Loadman St. Ph 2A 1989–90 0 26 0 0 0 Dorrington Road 1989–90 0 105 0 0 220 Cruddas Park Ph 1 1989–90 0 450 0 0 0 Cruddas Park Ph 2 1989–90 0 414 0 0 0 Buddie Road 1989–90 27 366 0 0 38 aggregate costs of vacant leasehold and freehold accommodation, excluding rents and contributions in lieu of rates. They will include service charges, fuel and utilities, maintenance, professional fees, and settlement of dilapidations claims.
- 1993–94: £13.1 million
- 1994–95: £19.7 million
- 1995–96: £32.9 million (estimated).
The increase in vacant space is due to the fall in the civil service numbers combined with rationalisation and relocation out of London.