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Seller's Packs
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what proposals he has to reintroduce legislation requiring seller's packs to be produced by those selling houses. [7206]
Ms Keeble: Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows. In the meantime we are pressing ahead, in consultation with consumer representatives and the professional bodies, with developing the detailed contents of the seller's pack.
House Sales and Purchases
Mr. Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what plans he has to introduce to England elements of the Scottish system of house sales and purchases. [7284]
Ms Keeble: It is already open to sellers and buyers of homes in England to follow the Scottish arrangements if they wish. This does not require a change in the law. It is also worth noting that these arrangements are not mandatory in Scotland, but have become established by custom and practice.
Our consultation paper 'the key to easier home buying and selling', published in December 1998, discussed the Scottish arrangements. Most people responding on this issue agreed with the analysis that these arrangements have potential drawbacks and would not work well in more active housing markets in England and Wales.
Refurbishment Projects
Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by his Department in (i) the current year and (ii) the next financial year; and what the costs will be of each project. [6593]
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Dr. Whitehead: The Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (Central) is not carrying out any significant building projects in either financial year 2001–02 or 2002–03.
It is carrying out two maintenance projects valued at more than £1 million each where air conditioning chiller plant is being replaced. These are in the International Maritime Organisation building, and at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre.
Both projects are at a stage where commercial sensitivities militate against publication of the precise values of these projects.
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Transport Projects
Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what the location and cost of transport projects over £1 million was in each region and nation of the United Kingdom which has received Government funding (a) in whole and (b) in part and (i) are being constructed and (ii) have been constructed under (A) PPP and (B) PFI; and if he will make a statement. [6951]
Mr. Jamieson: The following table provides details of the PFI and PPP transport projects valued at over £1 million in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland and states whether the projects have completed their construction phase, or are under construction, and whether they have received Government funding.
(17) Local authority PFI attracting additional revenue support
(18) Although a concession, Government grant was payable to funding the construction of approach roads.
Note:
For the purposes of this table the cost of a project is deemed to be its capital value
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Departmental Spending
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 m(20) |
|---|---|
| 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 | (19)70 |
(19) 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 m
(20) . 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.
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