§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what is his estimate of the annual cost to (i) his Department, (ii) his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies and (iii) the Common User Estate, of their empty and under-utilised properties for(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 and (d) 1998–99; and if he will make a statement. [26401]
§ Angela Eagle[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The answer is as follows:
£000 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 Department1 2,012 4,442 4,868 5,749 Executive Agencies 1,924 3,205 3,562 2,799 1 Including Executive Agencies. We do not hold central records for non-departmental public bodies or the common user estate, which was managed by Property Holdings prior to its abolition on 1 April 1996.
My Department seeks to identify and dispose of surplus or under used accommodation as soon as practicable.