§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the cost to public funds of the recent refurbishing of the Whitehall Banqueting House.
§ Mr. Kaufman£127,630.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the gross cost to public funds of the Whitehall Banqueting House in each of the last three years and the revenue obtained from letting.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe revenue obtained from letting from September to December 1973 was £2,053 and £6,250 in 1974. I am obtaining the other information and shall write to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many functions were held in the Whitehall Banqueting House in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. KaufmanThirty-eight functions between 1st January and 10th October 1972, when the building was closed for686W renovation; 25 between 12th September and 31st December 1973; and 45 in 1974.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment for how many hours a week the Whitehall Banqueting House was open to the general public in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. KaufmanThirty-eight hours a week, except for about two months each summer when it was open for 45 hours a week.
§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people visited the Whitehall Banqueting House in each of the last three years.
§ Mr. KaufmanThe number of fee-paying visitors for the years 1972, 1973 and 1974 was 32,100, 15,400—plus those visiting the special Inigo Jones exhibitions —and 42,000, respectively. There is no record of the numbers who attended evening functions.