§ Mr. Charles ClarkeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates his Department has made of the value which might be achieved, on disposal of the Central Science Laboratory sites at(a) Sand Hutton, York, and (b) Colney Lane, Norwich. [35408]
§ Mr. Rooker[holding answer 20 March 1998]: A formal estimate of the disposal value of the Central Science Laboratory site and Sand Hutton, York has not been prepared because the Ministry is not intending to dispose of it. In any event, such an estimate would have to be regarded as commercially confidential.
The Central Science Laboratory site at Colney Lane, Norwich is leased to the Ministry although the buildings were erected at Government expense. Any disposal of the Ministry's interests at Colney Lane would be subject to the terms and conditions of the ground lease. The disposal value has not been assessed but, if it had, it too would have to be regarded as commercially confidential.