§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 733, on civil servants, what is the grade of the civil servant who was involved in both the acquisition of the lease on Crickhowell House and in the siting of the National Assembly; and if he will indicate how much of that civil servant's time was spent on the siting of the National Assembly compared with the other civil servants involved in the exercise. [36795]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesOne Grade 7 Civil Servant has had some involvement with both matters. Together with more senior officials, he was involved in the process of acquiring the lease of Crickhowell House, particularly in respect of assessing the proposal submitted to the Welsh Office by the Welsh Health Common Services Authority, and advising Ministers upon it. Decisions on such issues are made by Ministers, not Civil Servants. He did not play any part in the direct lease negotiations.
This official, and a number of others, have spent most of their time recently dealing with issues related to the provision of accommodation for the Assembly.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, when the defects period was originally set to expire; and if he will make a statement on previous negotiations to extend the defects liability. [36780]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe defects liability period would have lasted for 12 months from the date of occupation. Extension has been by mutual agreement and remains in operation.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he has to refer prospective assignees or sub-lessees under the privity of contract provisions of the lease, for approval to the landlords before assignment or sub-letting; and, if an assignee or sub-lessee becomes insolvent or otherwise breaks the terms of the assignment or sub-lease, to whom the responsibility reverts. [36775]
399W
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe landlord's consent is required for assignments and certain sub-lettings but such consent is not to be unreasonably withheld. The Secretary of State retains responsibility to the landlord for default by assignees and sub-tenants.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he will make a statement on the connection between the terms of his lease at Crickhowell House and the defects liability period; and what estimate he has made of the costs to his Department, if the defects liability period had expired (i) 12 months, (ii) 24 months, (iii) 36 months or (iv) 48 months after occupation of Crickhowell House. [36799]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe provisions for a defect liability period are described in the original leases. There is no relation between the rent payable and extension of the period. No such estimates have been made.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, if he will list the principal reasons for the discussions between his Department and the landlords at Crickhowell House to extend the defects liability period beyond 31 March. [36798]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThere has been no discussion of the defects liability period between the Department and the landlords of Crickhowell House. Responsibility for the management of the building is with the Welsh Health Common Services Authority. They have been in negotiation with the landlord concerning defects which have been in process of rectification since the building was occupied. The defects liability period has been extended to cover those defects still outstanding by mutual agreement between WHCSA and the landlord.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, column 734, on Crickhowell House, in what ways his privity of contract affects his ability to assign or sub-let the lease; if he will list the restrictions, contained in the lease, reducing his ability to sub-let to (a) other Government departments and (b) the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [36779]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesGenerally there are no restrictions other than that it would be necessary to obtain the landlord's consent where occupation is by the Departments of Social Security or Education and Employment or the private sector.
§ Mr. Rhodri MorganTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales, pursuant to his answer of 19 March 1998,Official Report, columns 732–33, what the total cost to the reserves of the Welsh Health Common Services Authority of the void office space at Crickhowell House has been in each of the financial years since significant void space commenced; what steps have been taken to provide the resources to the authority to maintain reserves at an appropriate level for the authority; and if he will make a statement. [36794]
§ Mr. Ron DaviesThe building was fully occupied until 1995/96. Since then the cost of void space has been £120,000 for the year 1996/97 and estimated to be400W £1,005,000 for the year 1997/98. The Authority have been able to meet these costs from accumulated reserves without the need for any additional resource allocations.