§ Mr. Sayeedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost over the last five years of (a) internal and (b) external repairs and maintenance of the Palace of Westminster as a percentage of total Government spending.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThe total expenditure on repairs and maintenance on the parliamentary estate over the last five years has been:
£ million 1979–80 3.044 1980–81 3.386 1981–82 4.153 1982–83 7.013 1983–84 6.485 Separate accounts are not kept for the Palace of Westminster alone, nor can internal and external work be 478W separately distinguished. These amounts are all less than 0.01 per cent. of total Government spending in the year in question.