HC Deb 23 May 2000 vol 350 c451W
40. Miss McIntosh

To ask the President of the Council what recent representations she has received on proceedings in Westminster Hall. [121919]

Mrs. Beckett

I have received no recent direct representations.

43. Mr. Paterson

To ask the President of the Council if she will make a statement on the(a) capital and (b) running costs of the Westminster Hall experiment to date. [121922]

Mrs. Beckett

The capital costs of refurbishment of the Grand Committee Room, brought forward to allow Westminster Hall to function, were given by the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee as £882,000,Official Report, 23 November 1999, column 57W. It is not possible to state precisely how much of this sum is directly attributable to Westminster Hall; some £30,000 was spent on furniture, and a proportion of the professional fees of £71,000 went towards design services. For running costs, I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 20 March 2000, Official Report, column 456W.