§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Prime Minister what has been the percentage increase or decrease in the cost of running her office at 10 Downing street and Chequers since 1979.
§ The Prime MinisterSince 1979 there have been several developments which have affected how the costs of running my office are assessed, including:
- Introduction of charging for aircraft by the Ministry of Defence in 1981–82;
- Abolition of the CPRS in 1983, and the absorption of some of its staff within the No. 10 Policy Unit;
- Introduction of charging for buildings and services by the PSA in 1983–84;
- Introduction of charging for service personnel at Chequers by the MOD in 1984–85;
- Changes in the allocation of charges for the Government Car Service in 1984–85; and
- Inclusion of costs of office services from 1986–87.
When the effects of these developments are excluded (as far as it is possible to do so) and the result expressed in constant price terms, the cost of running 10 Downing street and Chequers has decreased by 1.61 per cent. between 1979–80 and 1987–88.