Traffic Area Office, Manchester

HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 cc355-6W

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals have been put to the traffic area network unit within his Department for reducing accommodation costs at the traffic area office in Manchester; and what action was taken to following up these proposals. [38139]

Mr. Bowis

The traffic area office in Manchester, in consultation with the local representatives of Property Holdings, put to the traffic area network unit three possible proposals in September 1994Stay in Portcullis house until the lease expired and await re-location to Ashburner house. Give notice to Property Holdings and move to another property on the Government estate. Look for alternative accommodation within the commercial market.

It was agreed between the traffic area office and the traffic area network unit that the third of these options was not viable due to vacant accommodation being available on the Government's own estate. No action was taken to follow up the other two proposals and the second option was overtaken by the timetable for the transfer of Property Holdings responsibilities to Departments.