Q141 Chairman: A couple of wrap-up questions. Mr Racine, what are the main challenges which face you in getting this building ready for occupation by 2005? What keeps you awake at night?
Mr Racine: The programme.
Q142 Chairman: The programme? Elaborate.
Mr Racine: It is a tight programme, so we have to be sure that everything happens on time, make sure that we can deliver the building in good condition in January 2005.
Q143 Chairman: Is there anything you would have done differently?
Mr Racine: From now? No.
Q144 Chairman: You are totally happy with what you have done.
Mr Racine: So far, yes.
Q145 Chairman: Mr Gieve, will this building be ready, fit for purpose, meet your needs when you move in in 2005?
Mr Gieve: I hope so. It is currently on schedule and we have given AGP every financial incentive to complete on time.
Q146 Chairman: Is there anything you would have done differently? Have you learned lessons? Have you shared those lessons with other government departments?
Mr Gieve: There are some things we would have done differently. Obviously we would have put more effort into ensuring that our staff projections were right. NAO note here, and we agree, that we did not co-ordinate between the IT and the building planning as well as we could have done in the early stages. There are definitely things we would have done differently.
Q147 Chairman: Would you have done anything differently on refinancing?
Mr Gieve: No. We are going to send you a note on this and preparing it may change my mind, but at the time I thought we were doing the right thing and I expect to show that.
Chairman: Gentlemen and lady, thank you very much for coming this afternoon. We are very grateful.
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