§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the value of land and property, including leasehold and freehold property held(a) in Scotland and (b) in total by (i) HM Customs and Excise, (ii) the Inland Revenue, (iii) National Savings (iv) ONS and (v) the Royal Mint and of the value of assets held by these bodies. [99731]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe following figures are based on the best information available at 31 March 1999.
£000 (a) In Scotland (b) In total Land and property ONS 0 32,617 Royal Mint 0 13,393 National Savings 7,017 22,470 Other assets ONS 0 17,500 Royal Mint 0 31,069 National Savings 0 93 Customs and Excise and the Inland Revenue are currently examining whether there is a 'value for money' case for transferring their estate to a private sector supplier on a single 20 year contract (Strategic Transfer of Estates to the Private Sector—STEPS project). At present three consortia have been shortlisted and the contract is expected to be assigned to the successful bidder in autumn 2000. The value of Customs and Inland Revenue land and buildings cannot therefore be disclosed on grounds of commercial confidentiality.
§ Ms Roseanna CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the value of land and property held(a) in Scotland and (b) in total by the Bank of England, and of the value of other assets held by the Bank of England. [99730]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe totals for equipment and property are provided on page 77 of the Bank of England's Annual report 1999, laid before Parliament on 26 May 1999.
The Bank has no land or property holdings in Scotland.