More Parliamentary Written Answers, to Questions askked by the Conservative MP Eric Pickles, on the subject of the "Disgrace and Favour" house last occupied by the notorious, multiply disgraced former Labour Cabinet Minister David Blunkett:
The Government has been dithering for over 2 years now, about selling off this property, valued at £ 2.4 million, but they do now seem to have instructed the estate agents Savills UK (Sloane Street branch), to start putting it onto the property market.
See the previous blog article Disgrace and Favour official residences:
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62 South Eaton Place, is on the southern edge of the much more posher district of Belgravia. Despite this, it looks rather prison like, with its bullet proof and blast resistant windows and curtains and CCTV cameras. It is right next door to The Belgravia public house, and within line of sight of the Belgravia Police Station, and the Victoria Coach Station terminus.
17 Mar 2008 : Column 806WOfficial Residences
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes have been made by the freeholder to leasehold extension rights regarding the Government House in Pimlico in the last five years. [183488]
Mr. Byrne [holding answer 31 January 2008]: The property is held on leases to 2053 from a superior tenant. The Department is not aware of any changes to leasehold extension rights by the freeholder.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 120W, on official residences, if she will place in the Library a copy of the tender advice for the disposal of South Eaton Place; [193186]
(2) pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 455W, on official residences, what the timetable is for producing the home information pack for the sale of South Eaton Place. [193192]
Mr. Byrne: The appointed selling agents, Savills UK (Sloane Street branch), are preparing advice on the best method of sale of the Home Secretary's former residence. This requires completion of relevant market research and pre-disposal due diligence. Once completed the Department will consider Savills' report and recommendations for successful disposal but as it is likely to be commercially confidential it is unlikely that it can be placed in the Library. The home information pack will be produced when the residence is placed on the market.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 455W, on official residences, who owns the freehold on the Government House in Pimlico, South Eaton Place. [193193]
Mr. Byrne: The freehold is owned by Grosvenor and is part of Grosvenor London Estate.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 455W, on official residences, on what date the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside moved (a) into and (b) out of the residence at South Eaton Place. [193194]
17 Mar 2008 : Column 807W
Mr. Byrne: The right hon. Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett) moved into the residence at South Eaton Place in the summer of 1997 and moved out in March 2006.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 18 February 2008, Official Report, column 455W, on official residences, what costs have been met by the public purse in respect of South Eaton Place during the period in which the property has been vacant. [193195]
Mr. Byrne: Excluding security-related decommissioning, costs of £4,500 have been incurred since March 2006.
Mr. Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the value of the Government House in Pimlico was at its most recent valuation. [193196]
Mr. Byrne: The Department's leasehold interest in this property was most recently valued at £2.4 million.
Eric Pickles is still digging into the "Blunkett affair(s) and the Government House in Pimlico", with another couple of Parliamentary Written Questions:
Still not yet for sale:
Written Answers: 19 May 2008 : Column 104W
This tainted property is now on the market, but the Labour Government cannot even abide by its own rules and policies regarding the sale:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/3741079/HIPocrisy-David-Blunketts-residence-for-sale---without-a-Home-Information-Pack.html
The Daily Telegraph reports:
The Government have still not yet managed to sell this politically tainted property:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2009-06-03a.276961.h
http://www.parliament.uk/deposits/depositedpapers/2008/DEP2008-3055.pdf
Squatters in 62 South Eaton Place ?
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2010-01-28a.312445.h
Is Francis Maude is presumably referring to the squatters in Blunkett's former Ministerial residence.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/dec/03/squatters-david-blunkett-home
Is Gordon Brown saying that they have now been evicted ?
Or is he just out of touch, and has not been told about the squatters ?
MY name is mark guard, i am the spokes person and legal adviser for the belgravia squatters who ocupied blunketts house,im filming these guys 24 7, footage will be soon be displayed on my facebook taken in the house, including the blunkett table discustions, buy the my cousin is gordon browns pa.
Mark Guard.