Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, regarding part (a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of the question, I wish to inform the House that these elements of information are available at the level of Ministries and Departments. The General Office Management Unit of my Ministry only gives necessary clearances to enable Ministries and Departments to proceed with the signature of lease agreements with private building owners subject to availability of funds, concurrence to rental rates as recommended by the Valuation Department, structural soundness of the private building as determined by my Ministry, among others. In the same vein, my Ministry also rents office space from various private owners. The total annual rental payable amounts to around Rs42.7 million. If I take into account the rent

65 paid by parastatal bodies under the aegis of my Ministry such as RDA, CIA, LDA and DICL, the total amount payable will be around Rs70 million. In view thereof, we are exploring the possibility of setting up a MNI House which would regroup all departments and divisions of my Ministry into one strategic location. The project is expected to be implemented under a suitable private public partnership model. This bold initiative aims at improving the efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery and would bring positive spillover other benefits to the country at large. For convenience purposes, information pertaining to part (a), name of the owners, part (b) extent and location thereof, part (c) monthly rental and total annual rental payable and part (d) duration of the lease have been compiled. I am tabling a copy, thereof, to the House. With respect to the last part of the question, I wish to reassure the House that all buildings currently being rented by my Ministry are in very good state and do not require any major renovation or maintenance.

Hon. Second Member for Belle Rose and Quatre Bornes! LA LOUISE, QUATRE BORNES – FLOOD MITIGATION MEASURES – DRAIN CONSTRUCTION