§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister in respect of(a) the flat above No. 10 Downing Street, (b) the flat above No. 11 Downing Street, (c) the flat in 1 Carlton Gardens, (d) Flat 1 in Admiralty House, (e) Flat 2 in Admiralty House, (f) Flat 3 in Admiralty House and (g) Government House in Pimlico (i) who the present occupants are, (ii) how much has been spent on (A) routine maintenance and (B) other building works in each year since 1995 and (iii) which have their council tax liabilities met by the inhabitants. [34369]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 7 February 2002.]: The flats above numbers 10 and 11 Downing Street have traditionally been the residences of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The flat in 1 Carlton Gardens is currently occupied by the President of the Council. The flats in Admiralty House and the Government House in Pimlico, which in the past have been assigned to a variety of Ministers, are currently occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Home Secretary. One flat in Admiralty House is currently unoccupied.
Payment for routine maintenance and other building works is the responsibility of the occupying Minister's department. Expenditure on work to the flat above No. 11 Downing Street is as follows:
Figures for 1995 to 1997 are not available in this form.
- 1997–98: £16,471;
- 1998–99: £48,336;
- 1999–00: £32,189;
- 2000–01: £37,501.
The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. I am responsible for meeting the full cost of the council tax on the flat above number 11 Downing Street.
§ Norman BakerTo ask the Prime Minister how many receptions have been held at No. 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997; and if he will list(a) the date, (b) the purpose, (c) the host, (d) the estimated number in attendance and (e) the cost to public funds of each reception. [34439]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 7 February 2002]: The programme of events at No. 10 is designed to give access to as many people as possible and includes regular children's tea parties and receptions for a wide cross-section of the community.
Over 280 official and charity receptions have been held at 10 Downing Street since 1 May 1997. I have placed a list in the Library.
1446WTotal costs are not available in the form requested. However, the total cost to my office for all official entertainment at 10 Downing Street and Chequers was as follows:
The costs of the charity receptions are funded by the charities involved.
- 1997–98: £43,777;
- 1998–99: £53,639;
- 1999–00: £60,652;
- 2000–01: £72,790.
As was the practice under previous administrations, I have hosted a number of political events at Downing Street. The costs of these were met by the Labour Party.
1447W
Official and charity receptions hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair Date 1997 13 May Prime Minister Reception—Eve of Session 120 14 June Prime Minister Reception—Trooping the Colour 100 26 June Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 40 2 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 15 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 22 July Prime Minister Reception—Design Industry 150 30 July Prime Minister Reception—General 200 8 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 15 October Prime Minister Reception—General 200 30 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 27 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 10 December Prime Minister Reception—General 200 18 December Mrs. Blair Charity 40 1998 29 January Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/ Children 40 11 February Prime Minister Reception—New Deal n/a 9 March Prime Minister Reception—New Designers' Competition n/a 26 March Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 26 March Prime Minister Reception—Voluntary Sector 200 1 April Prime Minister Tea—Women's Magazine Editors n/a 6 April Prime Minister Reception—Eur Football Leaders n/a 23 April Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 27 April Prime Minister Reception—Crime and Drugs 200 1 May Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 13 May Mrs. Blair Charity 40 21 May Prime Minister Reception—Education 200 2 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 10 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 13 June Prime Minister Trooping the Colour 120 18 June Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 1 July Prime Minister Reception—Health 200 2 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 23 July Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 8 September Mrs. Blair Reception—Women Magazine Editors n/a 17 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 6 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 21 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 27 October Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 17 November Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 18 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 23 November Prime Minister Reception—Eve of Session 120 30 November Prime Minister Reception—Development n/a 2 December Mrs. Blair Charity 40 8 December Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 14 December Mrs. Blair Charity 40 1448W
Official and charity receptions hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair Date 1999 27 January Prime Minister Reception—Work & Leisure 100 28 January Mrs. Blair Charity 40 28 January Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 9 February Prime Minister Reception—Education 200 15 February Prime Minister Technology College Trusts n/a 18 February Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 24 February Mrs. Blair Tea—Readers of Women's Weekly 30 23 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 29 February Mrs. Blair Tea—Gold start Awards n/a 10 March Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 11 March Prime Minister Reception—Millennium Lecture on Science 100 11 April Mrs. Blair Charity 40 15 April Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 15 April Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 19 April Prime Minister Reception—Regional Press Association 80 11 May Mrs. Blair Charity 40 13 May Mrs. Blair Charity 40 20 May Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 27 May Prime Minister Reception—Wealth Creation 100 12 June Prime Minister Trooping the Colour 120 14 June Prime Minister Reception—Older People 100 15 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 23 June Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 5 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 7 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 15 July Prime Minister Reception—Education 100 19 July Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 14 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 20 September Prime Minister Reception—British Fashion Council 500 13 October Prime Minister Reception—Arts & Culture 100 27 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 4 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 8 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 16 November Prime Minister Reception—Eve of Session 100 18 November Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 25 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 18 November Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 8 December Prime Minister Reception—Britishness 100 13 December Prime Minister Reception—Armed Forces 350 15 December Mrs. Blair Tea—Women's Own Children of Courage 30 16 December Mrs. Blair Tea MP's/Children 70 2000 17 January Mrs. Blair Charity 40 22 January Prime Minister Reception—Emergency Services 200 25 January Mrs. Blair Charity 40 2 February Prime Minister Reception—Rural Community 200 7 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 24 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 28 February Prime Minister Reception—NHS Doctors 200 29 February Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 1 March Mrs. Blair Charity 27 2 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 6 March Prime Minister Reception—Health 100 14 March Prime Minister Reception—Top 50 Schools 80 15 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 22 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 27 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 29 March Prime Minister Tea—Daily Star Awards 20 30 March Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 10 April Mrs. Blair Charity 40
1449W
Official and charity receptions hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair Date 12 April Mrs. Blair Charity 40 17 April Prime Minister Reception—Press Lobby 100 10 May Prime Minister Reception—UK/Caribbean 200 15 June Prime Minister Tea—Police Bravery Awards 110 17 June Prime Minister Trooping the Colour 130 28 June Prime Minister Reception—Primary Care Sector 200 25 July Prime Minister Tea—Football Foundation Launch 40 13 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 3 October Prime Minister Reception—Student Press 30 4 October Prime Minister Reception—Better Buildings 200 17 October Prime Minister Reception—Museum of TV & Radio 100 1 November Prime Minister Reception—Ethnic Press 75 8 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 9 November Prime Minister Charity 30 14 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 23 November Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 4 December Prime Minister Reception— Environment 100 5 December Prime Minister Reception—Eve of Session 105 12 December Mrs. Blair Tea—Women's Own Children of Courage 28 14 December Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children ? 2001 9 January Prime Minister Reception—Regional Editors 100 11 January Prime Minister Reception—Olympic Games 100 22 January Prime Minister Reception—Floods 200 25 January Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 40 6 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 15 February Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 26 February Prime Minister Reception—NHS Doctors 200 27 February Prime Minister Reception—Radio Academy's News 175 28 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 8 March Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 12 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 14 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 26 March Prime Minister Reception—Childcare 150 28 March Mrs. Blair Charity 40 4 April Mrs. Blair Charity 40 5 April Mrs. Blair Tea—1951 Women European Tour 17 20 April Mrs. Blair Tea—World Travel Leaders 65 22 May Mrs. Blair Charity 40 13 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 16 June Prime Minister Trooping the Colour 120 19 June Prime Minister Reception—Eve of Session 100 25 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 26 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 27 June Mrs. Blair Charity 40 3 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 5 July Prime Minister Tea—Police Bravery Awards 120 9 July Mrs. Blair Charity 40 23 July Prime Minister Reception—NHS 200 10 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 17 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 19 September Mrs. Blair Charity 40 24 September Prime Minister Reception—Policing 200 24 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 29 October Prime Minister Reception—Higher 200 31 October Mrs. Blair Charity 40 1 November Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 56 8 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40
Official and charity receptions hosted by the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair Date 8 November Prime Minister Reception—President of Pakistan 40 14 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 19 November Prime Minister Reception—Women's Media 70 20 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 27 November Mrs. Blair Charity 40 4 December Mrs. Blair Charity 40 6 December Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 40 7 December Mrs. Blair Tea—MP's/Children 70 10 December Mrs. Blair Tea—Women in Public Services 30 12 December Mrs. Blair Tea—Children of Courage 30 17 December Prime Minister Reception—Africa 100 18 December Mrs. Blair Charity 50 2002 9 January Prime Minister Reception—Regional Newspaper Editors 80 17 January Prime Minister Reception—Faith Community 180 21 January Prime Minister Reception—Communications Industry 200 22 January Mrs. Blair Charity 40 30 January Mrs. Blair Charity 40 4 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40 5 February Mrs. Blair Charity 40