§ Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the expenditure on renovating and altering the office and the residence of Her Majesty's Ambassador in The Hague during the last two years; what, if any, further expenditure is 306W planned; and what are the reasons for this expenditure.
§ Mr. ArmstrongI have been asked to reply.
The expenditure was as follows: Embassy offices, £162,414; Ambassador's residence, £142,323. No substantial further expenditure is anticipated in the foreseeable future.
In recent years, partly due to additional commitments following the United Kingdom's entry into the EEC and partly to an increase in the staffing complement, the offices had become overcrowded and lacked some essential facilities. To remedy these deficiencies an extension was built on the third floor of the existing building. Substantial works to improve security were also included. In the residence, it was necessary to carry out essential repairs and a modernisation scheme involving structural alterations and complete replacement of the central heating system.