§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the current value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total within the responsibility of(a) the Design Council, (b) the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, (c) ACAS, (d) UKAEA, (e) the National Consumers Council, (f) the Gas Consumers Council and (g) other executive non-departmental public bodies. [99817]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 26 November 1999]: The net book value of land and buildings held by the UKAEA as at 31 March 1999 was: (i) £2.6 million in Scotland, (ii) £83.5 million in the United Kingdom and (iii) nil overseas.
The Design Council, the Competition Commission (previously the Monopolies and Mergers Commission), ACAS, the National Consumers Council, the Gas Consumers Council and other executive non-departmental public bodies (other than the Research Councils) do not own land or property but rent or lease accommodation to meet their requirements.
Values for the land and property of the seven science Research councils are published in their Annual Accounts and the latest DTI Annual Expenditure Plans Report (Cm4211). As expenditure from the Science Budget is deemed to be for the benefit of the UK as a whole, data are not collected in the form requested and could be provided only at disproportion cost.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated value of land and property (i) in Scotland, (ii) in the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total within the responsibility of(a) the National Weights and Measures Laboratory, (b) the Insolvency Service, (c) the Radiocommunications Agency, (d) the Employment Tribunals Service, (e) Companies House 150W and (f) the Patent Office; and if he will further estimate the value of (1) plant and machinery, (2) vehicles, (3) office equipment and machinery, (4) telecommunications equipment, (5) computer equipment and systems, (6) furniture and fittings and (7) other assets for each of these bodies. [99818]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 26 November 1999]: Values for the assets of my Department's Executive Agencies, including land and property, can be found in their Annual Reports and Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. Assets are broken down into broad categories as appropriate for each Agency. The breakdown of this information into the categories requested could be done only at disproportionate cost. Land and property in the United Kingdom owned by these bodies as of 31 March 1999 had a net book value of £36,679,000, of which the value of land and property in Scotland was £824,000. No DTI Agency owns land or property overseas.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the value of land and property in (i) Scotland, (ii) the United Kingdom, (iii) overseas and (iv) total within the responsibility of(a) Magnox Electric plc, (b) British Nuclear Fuels plc, (c) the Post Office, (d) British Coal. [99814]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 26 November 1999]: Magnox Electric plc merged with BNFL plc in 1997–98. The net book value of land and buildings of the Group as at 31 March, as included in the 1998–99 Report and Accounts, was £2,072 million. The net book value of land and buildings held by the Post Office as at 28 March, as included in its 1998–99 Report and Accounts, was £1,579 million. The geographical analysis requested could be provided only for these bodies at disproportionate cost.
British Coal has transferred its remaining land and property to the Coal authority, an executive non-departmental public body. The net book value of land and property owned by the Coal Authority as at 31 March 1999 was (i) £3.5 million in Scotland, (ii) £16.1 million in the United Kingdom and (iii) nil overseas.
§ Mrs. EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate(a) the current value of land and buildings (including freehold, historic leasehold, and leasehold interests) in (i) Scotland, (ii) the UK, (iii) overseas and (iv) in total, and (b) the value of (1) office machinery and equipment, (2) telecommunications equipment, (3) computer equipment, (4) furniture and fittings, (5) scientific equipment, (6) heritage assets, (7) intangible assets, (8) long term debtors and (9) shareholdings held by his Department. [99659]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 26 November 1999]: The estimate of the value of land and buildings held by this Department is:
151W The value of the other categories of assets requested are:
£ (i) Scotland 717,000 (ii) UK 25,657,000 (iii) Overseas 0 (iv) Total 25,657,000 The figures supplied for (i) to (iv), and (1) to (7) are based on current cost net book values as at 31 March 1999, after allowing for depreciation. The estimates for land and buildings include freehold and historic leasehold property but do not include buildings occupied under operating leases. Shareholdings for which no markets exists are shown at historic cost; other shareholdings are shown at market price as at 31 march 1999.
£ (1) Office Machinery and Equipment 236,000 (2) Telecommunications Equipment 89,000 (3) Computer Equipment 3,090,000 (4) Furniture and Fittings 3,127,000 (5) Scientific Equipment 14,767,000 (6) Heritage Assets 0 (7) Intangible Assets 0 (8) Long-term debtors 12,770,000 (9) Shareholdings: Historic Cost 32,668,000 Market Value 29,701,000