HC Deb 27 October 1999 vol 336 c926W
Mr. Todd

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what the annual estimated manning costs of Derbyshire's magistrates courts will be in the three years immediately after the completion of the Private Finance Initiative for the county's courts; and what were their running costs on the same basis in 1996, 1997 and 1998. [95482]

Jane Kennedy

Cleaning and care-taking costs for the three years mentioned are 1996–97—£114,461; 1997–98—£116,656; 1998–99—£123,572. The cost of providing security cover is separately provided by the private sector: 1996–97—£86,500; 1997–98—£92,595; 1998–99—£105,037. These costs include cash carrying duties that cannot be separated from guard duties. No information on the likely costs under the PFI project will be available until bids in response to the Invitation to Tender are received and evaluated during December. Any decision to transfer staff to the private sector will be made on a value for money basis.

Mr. Todd

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the latest estimated cost of the investigation and preparation of the Private Finance Initiative for property connected with Derbyshire magistrates courts. [95527]

Jane Kennedy

The latest estimated cost of advisers and the local authority management fees for the investigation and preparation of the Private Finance Initiative project involving Derbyshire magistrates courts is £673,582. Costs have increased because work has been undertaken to establish the feasibility of bringing back in to use a listed building as a magistrates court.