§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the amount of that part of the £15 million he proposes to make in cuts in public building projects and improvements that will be involved in not proceeding with the new parliamentary building in this or the next financial year.
§ Mr. ChannonThe savings of £15 million referred to by my right hon. and learned Friend excluded the cost of the new parliamentary building.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any estimate of the increase in the cost of the new parliamentary building as a result of delaying the commencement of work on it until the 1975–76 financial year.
§ Mr. ChannonNo. Whether there will be an increase will depend on future movements in building costs and other factors.
§ Mr. Sydney Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has made any estimate of the maintenance costs of those buildings recently acquired on the site of the new parliamentary building in the remainder of this and the next financial year including any repairs to those properties that may be necessary.
§ Mr. ChannonRepair and maintenance costs may be affected by unforeseen factors but, on recent experience, I estimate the cost of maintaining these buildings at roughly £10,000 per annum over the next two years.