HC Deb 03 July 2000 vol 353 cc11-2W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what, at constant prices, has been the cost of maintenance projects in each year since 1991–92 at the occupied Royal Palaces after deducting the costs of the exceptional rewiring programme in hand at the time of the Windsor fire, and the costs relating to the restoration after that fire. [128461]

Mr. Alan Howarth

The costs are as follows:

£0001
1991–92 14,999
1992–93 10,768
1993–94 9,105
1994–95 10,637
1995–96 12,547
1996–97 11,630
1997–98 7,437
1998–99 7,392
1999–2000 6,788
1 Excluding minor maintenance costing less than £2,500

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1993–94, what has been the(a) gross income and (b) net income from charges to visit Buckingham Palace; and to which Department the income was paid. [128460]

Mr. Alan Howarth

The gross income and net income from charges to visit Buckingham Palace in each year since 1993–94 are as follows:

£000
Net income
Gross income WCFR1 RCT2
1993–94 2,277 1,391 0
1994–95 2,662 1,398 0
1995–96 2,948 1,667 0
1996–97 2,812 1,686 0
1997–98 2,353 1,080 0
1998–99 2,505 1,066 0
1999–2000 2,349 0 907
1 Windsor Castle Fire Restoration Project
2 Royal Collection Trust

The net income accrues to the Royal Collection Trust rather than to any Government Department. Just under £8.3 million has been contributed toward the cost of the Windsor Castle Fire Restoration Project. Having completed the Fire Restoration Project, the net income has been retained by the Royal Collection Trust to fund ongoing conservation of the Royal Collection and the project to re-develop the Queen's Gallery.

Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in each year since 1993–94 what has been the(a) gross income and (b) net surplus from charges to visit Windsor Castle precincts. [128459]

Mr. Alan Howarth

No gross income is attributable to the Windsor Castle precincts as visitors buy one ticket which covers the State Apartments, Queen Mary's Dolls House, St. George's Chapel, the exhibition and the precincts. The net surplus from charges to visit Windsor Castle precincts in each year since 1993–94 is as follows:

£000
1993–94 1100
1994–95 1,616
1995–96 1,908
1996–97 2,257
1997–98 2,381
1998–99 3,416
1999–2000 2,400
1 Charges for entry to the Windsor Castle precincts introduced on 4 January 1994