§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated total cost of acquiring the Holyrood site for the Scottish Parliament. [30854]
§ Mr. McLeishThe estimated total cost of acquiring and preparing the Holyrood site is approximately £4 million.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when(a) he and (b) his officials first became aware of the asbestos contamination on the Holyrood site. [30851]
§ Mr. McLeishNeither the Department nor the Secretary of State are aware of any asbestos contamination at the Holyrood site.
Contamination would arise only if the asbestos was mishandled. The Secretary of State became aware on 16 February 1998 that Scottish and Newcastle plc had undertaken to remove asbestos from their building in Holyrood before transferring the property. Officials had been informed on 16 January 1998.
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the estimated cost of clearing the Holyrood site(a) at the time the contract for purchasing the site was agreed and (b) at the latest date for which figures are available. [30852]
§ Mr. McLeishThe estimated cost of clearing the Holyrood site is about £500,000. This estimate has not changed since the purchase price was agreed.
268W
§ Mr. JenkinTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimated total cost of establishing the Scottish Parliament, separately identifying provision for temporary accommodation for the Parliament pending completion of the Holyrood Parliament building. [30855]
§ Mr. McLeishThe estimated construction costs of the building at Holyrood will be around £55 million, including site acquisition costs and demolition costs, but not including fees and VAT. The actual costs will depend on the final design, the level of fees negotiated and the price of construction, which will be determined by competitive tender.
A number of venues are being considered for the interim accommodation. Until a venue is chosen it is not possible to say what the estimated costs will be.