2.12 The PRIME contract did not contain a provision for voluntary termination compensation, the absence of which meant that the Department could not terminate the original contract and put a contract for the combined estates out to tender. Now the Department can voluntarily terminate the expanded PRIME contract. The Department negotiated the level of compensation payable on the principle recommended by the Office of Government Commerce that "the objective should be to ensure that the contractor and its financiers are fully compensated, that is to be no worse off because of Authority default than if the contract had proceeded as expected". Total compensation payable to Land Securities Trillium is set at some £230 million at the end of year 1 (31 March 2004) and reduces through the life of the contract to some £8 million in the last contract year. Under the terms of the voluntary termination agreement, the Department will pay Land Securities Trillium's outstanding debt, in respect of borrowings to purchase the estate at the start of the PRIME expansion contract, and in consequence, the properties transfer back to the Department at no cost. The Department will also pay to Land Securities Trillium any costs incurred in terminating the agreement, to put Land Securities Trillium back in the position it would have been if the agreement ran its full term.