§ Mr. Tony Banksasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on office furniture, carpets and curtains and office decorating in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. EggarThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office including the Overseas Development Administration has office accommodation at home and overseas.
The Department of the Environment was responsible for the supply of all these items and services overseas until 1 April 1983 when the Foreign and Commonwealth Office assumed responsibility. Expenditure on office furniture, carpets and curtains for use overseas was as follows:
Financial year Total £ 1980–81 286,870 1981–82 240,951 1982–83 277,786 1983–84 516,093 1984–85 496,874 It is not possible to identify decoration costs separately from maintenance costs, of which they form a part.
65WThe Department of the Environment similarly supplied all these items and services without charge in respect of office accommodation in the United Kingdom until 1 April 1983. Thereafter major decorations remained the responsibility of the Department of the Environment whilst minor decorations became a departmental responsibility. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office spent £34,348 (1983–84) and £49,185 (1984–85) on minor decorations. Expenditure on office furniture, carpets and curtains in the United Kingdom was £513,167 (1983–84) and £529,281 (1984–85).