§ Mr. James Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the carpets which have been fitted recently in the Committee Corridor and in the Members' Tea Room of the House of Commons and in the other rooms in the Palace of Westminster.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe carpet in the Committee Room Corridor cost £9,072. It covers approximately 900 sq. yds., and as it runs the length of both Houses the Pugin design was approved by the two Works of Art Committees in 1973. The old carpet has been used elsewhere in the palace, thus effecting a saving of £4,700. The Members' Tea Room carpet covers 278 sq. yds. and cost £1,836. It comes from the standard range used by my Department. So do most of those fitted in various other rooms since April 1974 at a cost of £7,434.
§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the special wallpaper in the Members' Tea Room; and why the monogram "VR" instead of the monogram of Her present Majesty the Queen was printed on the wallpaper.
§ Mr. KaufmanFollowing damage to the wallpaper in the Tea Room by water during the work on the Commons Court infilling scheme redecoration was recommended in April 1973. A scheme was therefore prepared in consultation with the appropriate Committees of the House and implemented during the last recess. The cost of the new wallpaper, at £14 per roll compared with £40 per roll for the flock wallpaper which it replaced amounted to £435, including VAT. It is a Pugin designed paper printed from the original block and hence incorporates the contemporary monogram.
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§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use has been made of the carpet which was recently replaced in the Committee Corridor; whether it has been sold; and, if so, for how much.
§ Mr. KaufmanI invite the hon. Member's attention to my answer today. The old carpet has been used in two Committee Rooms, two other large rooms, four small rooms and on two staircases, thereby effecting a saving of £4,700.