§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total cost per annum of heating (a) the Palace of Westminster, and(b) Norman Shaw North building.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe total cost per annum of heating the Palace of Westminster is estimated to be £220,000. Costs for the Norman Shaw North building cannot be identified as heating is supplied from the Whitehall heating mains system and cannot be metered.
§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if it is normal practice for the Palace of Westminster to be heated at weekends;
(2) what would be the total savings to public funds if the heating in the Palace of Westminster were switched off at weekends.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergYes. If the Palace of Westminster was not heated at weekends there would be a saving to public funds of about £15,000 per annum. However, hon. Members, 10–20,000 visitors each Saturday and up to 200 staff would be subjected to unacceptable discomfort.
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§ Mr. Nicholas Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, to conserve energy and to improve the working conditions of hon. Members, he will take steps to lower the central heating temperature in the House.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe major part of the Palace of Westminster is heated by an archaic steam radiator system which can only be regulated by shutting down individual radiators. A six-year modernisation programme which will eventually include an air-cooling system was begun last year and this should allow control of temperature levels throughout the building and will produce savings of at least 20 per cent. in fuel consumption.