HC Deb 29 March 2004 vol 419 cc1234-5W
Mr. Llwyd

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) renovation and (b)maintenance projects on buildings (i) owned and (ii) rented by his Department were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what the associated costs were of each. [163956]

Ruth Kelly

The total costs of refurbishment of 1 Horse Guards Road, occupied by the Treasury under a PFI Agreement in July 2002, were given in answer to the hon. Member for South Norfolk (Mr. Bacon) on 5 February 2002,Official Report, column 841W. The costs of essential refurbishment and redecoration works in the two Treasury office buildings and in 11 Downing Street during the years 1997–98/2000–01 were given in answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 6 February 2002, Official Report, column 954W. Buildings occupied by Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue and the Valuation Office Agency were transferred to Mapeley Limited on 1 April 2001, under which fully serviced accommodation is provided. Information on any renovation and maintenance projects carried out prior to this date is not readily available and could be constructed only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which former officials of the Department have asked for permission to join(a) PricewaterhouseCoopers, (b) Deloitte & Touche, (c) Ernst and Young and (d) KPMG. [156903]

Ruth Kelly

Civil servants are subject to the Business Appointments Rules, which set out the circumstances in which they must seek permission to accept outside appointments within two years of leaving the service. A copy of the Rules is available in the Libraries of the House. Information about appointments taken up by the most senior staff are published in the annual reports of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. The next annual report will be published shortly.

Since 2001 one former official from the Treasury has asked for permission to join one of these organisations. Sir Steve Robson applied for, and was given, permission to undertake an appointment with KPMG. He subsequently took up this appointment.