§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost of his Department's recent move from Whitehall Place West to Smith Square; and if he will make a statement. [27150]
Dr. John Cunningham[holding answer 3 February 1998]: The outturn removal costs for Ministers' offices and those of officials from Whitehall Place to the Department's accommodation at Nobel House, Smith Square, was £38,000.
Additionally alterations to Nobel House to prepare it for Ministers and senior officials cost £240,000, and £54,000 was spent on furniture and carpets for Ministerial offices. The move was completed on 24 November 1997.
Associated with this move, some staff from Nobel House were relocated to temporary accommodation at St. Christopher House, Southwark to create space for those moving from Whitehall Place. £253,000 was spent in preparing two floors at St. Christopher House for the Department's occupation. The building was already on the Government estate so there are no additional rental costs to the Exchequer. However, the Department will pay an occupancy charge (rent, rates and service costs) of £367,000 for the year to the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, an executive agency of the Office of Public Service.