HC Deb 17 April 1962 vol 658 cc46-8W
Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the expenditure in 1962–63 of £3,000 on the supply of furniture and equipment to the Royal palaces.

Lord John Hope

£
1,600 for the repair of historic furniture, resilking of walls, and supply of equipment such as postcard racks and barrier posts for the State Apartments open to the general public in the Palaces of Hampton Court, Holyroodhouse and Kew.

£
675 for the renewal of curtains and other furnishings in rooms in St. James's Palace used for State and official functions, and in Housekeepers' Apartments at various Palaces.
500 for the supply of Royal Standards.
225 as a contingency provision for minor unforeseen items arising during the year.

Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the expenditure in 1962–63 of £53,000 on the maintenance of furniture and equipment at the royal palaces.

Lord John Hope

The details are as follows:

£
48,850 as a contribution towards the wages of industrial staffs at Buckingham Palace (£22,850), Windsor Castle (£22,850) and the Palace of Holy-roodhouse (£3,150).
4,150 for the repair and maintenance of furniture and equipment in unoccupied Palaces open to the public (£1,900) and used for State and Official functions (£2,250).

Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the £425,000 required in 1962–63 for the maintenance and running expenses of royal palaces.

Lord John Hope

The answers I gave to the hon. Member's Questions on 10th April included all details of this £425,000 except those for Windsor Castle, which are:

£
8,415 for cleaning.
44,610 for day to day maintenance and operation of plant.
8,863 for painting.
41,440 for items of special maintenance of which:
£
17,900 for repairs to stonework.
4,500 to convert service lifts from D.C. to A.C.
2,000 to replace obsolete water filtration plant.
2,000 for repairs to drains.
2,500 to remove vineries.
3,665 for repairs to roofs and chimneys.
8,875 for small miscellaneous items.
75 for Supplies services.
103,403

Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Minister of Works if he will give details of the staff employed at the royal palaces and paid by his Department; and why the salary bill of £61,000 this year is greater than that of last year by £3,600.

Lord John Hope

The number of staff is as shown in the printed Estimates for 1961–62 under Sub-heads B.1 and B.2 of the Royal Palaces Vote (Class VII, 5). The apparent reduction from 62 (1961–62) to 59 (1962–63) is due to a change in the method of counting whereby two part-time staff are now counted as one full-time. The increase in the sum of money required for 1962–63 is due to normal increments in salaries and to wage awards.