HC Deb 21 July 1998 vol 316 cc491-2W
Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commowealth Affairs, Pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will list the outdated premises referred to in the chapter on his Department. [51558]

Mr. Fatchett

There is no definitive list at present. The FCO intends to use the flexibility provided by the Comprehensive Spending Review to rationalise and modernise the estate, at home and overseas. We want to make key British missions Overseas showcases for modern Britain.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review if he will list the assets worth £90 million referred to in the chapter on his Department. [51559]

Mr. Fatchett

There is no definitive list at present. Following the Comprehensive Spending Review the FCO now has the flexibility, during the next three years, to recycle up to £90 million gross receipts from the disposal of properties. We will use a series of indicators to measure the performance of all our assets and will use the results to rationalise our estate. Decisions to sell will be taken in the light of value for money considerations including local market conditions, prevailing exchange rates and the cost of reproviding alternate property.

Mr. Wilshire

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Comprehensive Spending Review, if he will list the range of reforms and efficiency improvements referred to in the chapter on his Department. [51560]

Mr. Fatchett

The reforms and efficiency measures we shall be taking include:

  • introduction of industry standard IT
  • modernisation of the communications network including introduction of global e-mail
  • rationalisation of the estate in UK and abroad
  • brigading in-house service providers into a unified service organisation
  • further devolution of financial resources
  • modernisation of financial arrangements for Government Hospitality Fund and review of in-house hospitality and conference provision
  • costs/benefits review of creating additional Business Units.

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