HC Deb 15 October 2001 vol 372 c897W
Pete Wishart

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions if he will estimate the total running costs for buildings used, owned or rented by his Department for each nation and region of the UK, and estimate the average cost per square metre for properties used by his Department as a whole, and by region and nation of the UK. [6801]

Dr. Whitehead

The total running costs for the buildings used, owned, or rented by DTLR, including the Government Office Estate, is £103.6 million per annum. We do not hold this figure at regional or national level.

The average cost per square metre for properties across the Department is £292. The average figures for the nine English regions and Scotland and Wales are listed in the table.

£
Region Cost per m2
East Midlands 210
East of England 210
Greater London 470
North East 210
North West 125
South East 275
South West 305
West Midlands 270
Yorkshire and the Humber 160
Scotland 260
Wales 170
1 This figure is distorted because DVLC Swansea is a freehold. No notional rent is included because this information is not available. The figure for Wales excluding the DVLC is £152 per square metre.

Note:

1. The information and analysis provided is for the DTLR's 135 key properties, i.e. those buildings over 350 m2 These properties account for 76 per cent. of the total running costs of the Estate, 95 per cent. of the staff and 74% of floor area of the total property portfolio.

2. The costs are as provided by DTLR and its agencies under the headings: Rent, Rates, Service Charge, Utilities, All Maintenance, and Additional running costs.