§ Lord Steel of Aikwoodasked the Chairman of Committees:
What has been the expenditure each year on cleaning and repairing the stonework of the Palace of Westminster since the programme began in the 1970s; and what are the estimates of future annual expenditure. [HL2021]
§ The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)I do not have the annual figures for expenditure by the Department of the Environment before the establishment in 1992 of the Parliamentary Works Directorate, although I understand that a total of £21 million was spent on cleaning and restoring the external elevations of the Palace of Westminster between 1981 and 1993.
Between 1992 and 1997, expenditure on cleaning and repairs to Victoria Tower and Speaker's Court was as follows:
Year Victoria Tower Speaker's Court Total 1992–93 £1.918m nil £1.918m 1993–94 £1.319m nil £1.319m 1994–95 £0.354m £0.868m £1.222m 1995–96 £0.012m £0.517m £0.529m 1996–97 nil £0.119m £0.119m In this year, committees of both Houses have authorised the expenditure of £180,000 for stone cleaning and restoration within the Palace and its internal courtyards.