HC Deb 28 April 1998 vol 311 cc113-4W
Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much rent will be paid by the British Cattle Movement Service in each of the first 15 years of its locations in Workington. [39230]

Dr. John Cunningham

My Department has a ground lease for the BCMS site at Workington which costs £3,500 per annum, subject to any rent reviews in that period. This lease covers land upon which we have erected our own building.

Under a separate lease for a building which we have refurbished, the Ministry will pay no rent for the first three years. From 2001, we will pay a market rent for the building. The level of the rent will be the subject of negotiation at the time but it is currently estimated to be about £50,000 per annum.

Both leases are renewable in 2007 at which time the rents would also be reviewed.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will place in the Library the details of his Ministry's cost benefit study undertaken to determine the site of the British Cattle Movement Service. [39232]

Dr. John Cunningham

A copy of the investment appraisal has been placed in the Library of the House.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the criteria which he employed in determining the locations of the British Cattle Movement Service headquarters; and how each of the possible sites involved in the selection process was assessed against each of the site selection criteria. [39229]

Dr. John Cunningham

The criteria included factors such as cost, ease of recruitment and retention of staff, and whether sufficient space was available. As explained in my answer to the right hon. Member of 25 February 1998,Official Report, column 274, some 80 sites were considered, of which 7 were visited and 3 shortlisted.

Mr. Jack

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much rent was assumed in his Ministry's cost benefit analysis on the location of the British Cattle Movement HQ for each of the first 15 years of the project for(a) Manchester, (b) Guildford and (c) Workington. [39231]

Dr. John Cunningham

The figures for annual accommodation costs used in the investment appraisal, including estimated rent or capital charge, and rounded to the nearest thousand points were(a) £306,000 for Manchester (b) £315,000 for Guildford and (c) £199,000 for Workington.

Forward to