§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what is her estimate of the(a) annual cost and (b) total value of the empty properties owned by (i) her Department, (ii) agencies and (iii) other public bodies for which she has responsibility, in (a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year. [26595]
§ Mrs. Beckett[holding answer 5 February 1998]: Government property is held in the name of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. However, for those properties for which my Department is administratively responsible, my best estimates are as follows:
Year Department Agencies Other 1995–96 Cost 172,824 — 2,458,000 Value — — 32,202,000 1996–97 Cost 325,743 55,000 2,756,000 Value 75,000 100,000 34,102,000 1997–98 (to date) Cost 604,236 45,833 2,341,000 Value 3,450,000 100,000 28,570,000 1997–98 (full year) Cost 786,518 55,000 3,166,000 Value 3,450,000 205,000 26,070,000 Notes:
1. Building earmarked for demolition have not been valued.
2. Developed land with no buildings on it has been excluded from the figures.