HC Deb 19 January 2000 vol 342 c499W
Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what representations he has received concerning the Government's plans to switch payments from benefits and pension books to bank transfers and the impact of this change on local post offices; and if he will make a statement. [106041]

Mr. Rooker

I refer the hon. Member to the written answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Vale of Glamorgan (Mr. Smith) on 6 December 1999,Official Report, column 374W.

Property
Melbourne Place, Topcliffe Road, Sowerby, North Yorkshire Not yet offered for sale. Awaiting issue of Certificate of Lawfulness of Proposed Use or Development by the local planning authority. The site will be marketed thereafter
The former RAF Station at Strubby, Alford, Lincolnshire First offered for sale in February 1995. Little interest from potential purchasers. The site was finally sold in July 1999
4 Almondbank Perth First offered for sale in July 1996. Little interest from potential purchasers. Investigations are under way into the potential for redevelopment and discussions are taking place with the local planning authority
5 Almondbank Perth Not yet offered for sale although part of the site was sold back to a former owner in 1996. Agents have advised that marketing of the site should be delayed until the position with regard to 4 Almondbank is clarified
The Experimental Horticultural Station at Efford, Lymington, Hampshire Not offered for sale on the open market. Until recently this site was fully occupied by Horticulture Research International under the terms of a lease. They have recently surrendered the northern sector of the site to the Ministry. Part of this was sold in October 1999 to the successor of the former owner under the terms of the Crichel Down Rules. Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the remainder to the same person on the same basis
Barnhall, Wickford, Essex Not yet offered for sale. The Ministry is collaborating with the local authority which owns some adjacent land with a view to selling the MAFF land for development in due course