Empty Property
Work and Pensions
Gareth Thomas (Harrow West, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many buildings owned by his Department and the bodies for which he is responsible have been empty for more than two years; and if he will make a statement.
Chris Grayling (Minister of State (Employment), Work and Pensions; Epsom and Ewell, Conservative)
Since 1998 the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) occupies the majority of its accommodation under a private finance initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME Contract. Under the terms of this PFI the Department leases back fully serviced accommodation from its private sector partner Telereal Trillium, for which it pays an all-inclusive unitary charge. The unitary charge provides for the return to Telereal Trillium of any vacated properties following a fixed notice period. From the agreed vacation date Telereal Trillium assume full responsibility for the vacated building.
However, the Department has one property which has been empty for more than two years, and which remains our responsibility. Mabbs Cross House, 89 Mesnes Street, Wigan is a former Rent Service facility that fell to DWP to manage out once the Rent Service joined the Valuations Office Agency on