The GSD says that the reality behind the “big fanfare” surrounding the Chief Minister’s inauguration of the new Immigration and Home Affairs Department (formerly CSRO) offices is that the Government will “pay significant amounts” in rent and an unknown (but probably very significant) additional sum to refurbish the property. The party asks: “Where is the value for money of all that?”

A statement continued: “The Chief Minister completely misses the point about the GSD’s criticisms of the Government’s policy to move Government departments into private properties. 

“This policy presents a serious challenge from a value for money perspective. It makes little financial sense to the GSD that the Government should move departments such as the Immigration and Home Affairs Department from Secretary’s Lane to Leanse Place. 

“In what way can transferring a Government Department from a property owned by the Government to another property where the tax payer will have to pay the landlord there an annual rental fee of £214,680 – which, over the period of the lease of 9 years will result in a payment of almost £2M – be justified financially? 

“None of this stands to scrutiny when you also consider that rental payments could have been made in advance of occupation with this particular lease having been entered into more than 2 years ago. The taxpayer will also have had to have funded both the kitting out and the move. 

“This is all part of a policy of a Government which has and will preside over the move of other Departments to other private properties such as at 80A Queensway, the latter to the tune of in excess of £1M a year.” 

Damon Bossino said; “The Chief Minister may wax lyrical about the better quality of the new premises but he totally fails to address the bad bargains he is entering into for the taxpayer in the process.”