§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much vacant office space, by reference to(a) the number of offices and (b) floor space, is unoccupied in (i) the Treasury building, (ii) the old MAFF building and (c) other Government buildings within the range of the House of Commons Division bell; and if he will make a statement. [26262]
§ Mr. KilfoyleResponsibility for this matter has been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. John Locke, to write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from John C. Locke to Mr. Andrew Dismore, dated 3 February 1998:
I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service to reply to your question about vacant office space at the Treasury Building (Government Offices Great George Street); the MAFF building at Whitehall Place West and other Government buildings within the House of Commons division bell area.Since April 1996 departments have been responsible for their own accommodation. Under the terms of the Civil Estate Coordination Agreement PACE is required to maintain a database of Civil Estate properties. Data is provided by Departments whose responsibility it is to keep PACE informed of both surplus space and new requirements. There is currently no vacant space available in the Treasury Building or the old MAFF buildings.In answer to the final part of your question I enclose a schedule of Civil Estate properties within the sound of the division bell showing the amount of recorded vacant space.
595W
List of vacant properties within reach of the House of Commons division bell Property address Vacant area in m2 Allington Towers Allington Street London SW1E 5EB 600—available for 6 months prior to reoccupation by a government department Bridge Place 88–89 Eccleston Square London SW1P 1PT 6,942 Romney House 43 Marsham Street London SW1P 3PY 14,956 2 Marsham Street London SW1P 3EB 56,085—due to be demolished prior to sale Old Admiralty Building Spring Gardens London SW1A 2AH 20,554—impending major refurbishment prior to reoccupation by a government department Steel House 11 Tothill Street London SW1H 9LJ 487
Property address Vacant area in m2 Admiralty Arch The Mall London SW1A 2BE 10,156—in need of major refurbishment prior to occupation
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) what is his estimate of the value of empty Government properties in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97 and (c) 1997–98; and if he will make a statement; [26402]
(2) what percentage of Government accommodation in (a) the SW1 postal district of London and (b) the remainder of the United Kingdom, is vacant; if he will estimate vacant space in square metres; and if he will make a statement. [26403]
§ Mr. KilfoyleResponsibility for these matters have been delegated under the terms of the Framework Document to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate. I have asked its Chief Executive, Mr. John Locke, to write to the hon. Member.
Letter from John C. Locke to Mr. Malcolm Bruce, dated 3 February 1998:
I have been asked by the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service, to reply to PQ 26402 and 26403 relating to the value of empty Government properties; and the percentage of vacant space both in the SW1 postal district of London and the remainder of the UK.From 1 April 1996, responsibility for individual properties was transferred to government departments. At the same time, PACE inherited wholly vacant properties that were at that time surplus to departments needs. Departments retain responsibility for all accommodation subsequently declared surplus.PACE only retains value information for the properties transferred to it for disposal; the remaining information rests with individual departments and is not held centrally. Our Annual Report and Accounts spells out the value of the surplus property for which we are responsible. Many of these properties are leaseholds with a nil or negative asset value. At 1/4/96 this stood at a negative value of £486m and at 31 March 1997 at £433.3m. So far as freeholds are concerned the opening valuation was £80.2m at I April 1996 reducing to £67.6m at 31 March 1997. This takes account of the disposals achieved during the year. Copies of our Annual Report and Accounts have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament. Our second Annual Report and Accounts will report the position at 31 March 1998.So far as the percentage of vacant space is concerned we do maintain a data base of all Civil properties i.e. excluding MOD, NHS and the Prison Estate. To assist our role in providing advice to departments in managing their property they are required to keep us informed of both surplus space and new requirements. Our records show that in the SW1 postal district of London 10.5% (95,990m2) is vacant and for the remainder of the UK 9.5% (859,4832) is vacant.