HC Deb 22 October 1987 vol 120 cc847-8W
Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Prime Minister how many Conservative hon. and right hon. Members have received hospitality in 10 Downing street in each of the past five years.

The Prime Minister

A number of Members of Parliament, of various parties, come to official functions at 10 Downing street during the course of the year. Detailed records are available only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Prime Minister what paintings, engravings and photographs have been (a) removed and (b) hung in 10 Downing street since 1979.

The Prime Minister

Information in the form requested is available only at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Prime Minister what has been the total annual cost of (a) decoration and (b) furnishing for 10 Downing street in each year since 1979.

The Prime Minister

The total expected costs in 1987–88 of(a) decoration and other maintenance and repair work and (b) furniture and fittings for 10 Downing street are £60,000 and £15,000, respectively. Information for previous years is not available in the form requested and cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Mr. Tony Banks

asked the Prime Minister if she will provide the final figures for 1985–86 and 1986–87 for (a) the cost of maintaining and running 10 Downing street and additional costs at Chequers, (b) the grant-in-aid to the Chequers trust, (c) the costs on a consistent basis and(d) expressed at constant 1984–85 prices.

The Prime Minister

The figures requested are as follows:

£
(a) Cost of maintaining and running 10 Downing street and additional costs at Chequers1
1985–86 4,405,852
1986–872 4,962,950
(b) Grant-in-aid to the Chequers Trust:
1985–86 208,000
1986–87 224,000
(c) Costs at (a) on a consistent basis3
1985–86 4,405,852
1986–87 4,526,729
(d) Costs at (c) expressed in 1984–85 price terms4
1985–86 4,154,895
1986–87 4,143,785

Notes:

1 The figures include costs at both 10 Downing street and Chequers; the information is not available by location.

2 Costs for 1986–87 include, for the first time, the costs of office services attributed to 10 Downing street. Salaries and wages, notional pension liability and administration costs and the grant-in-aid to the Chequers Trust are included for both years. The salary of the Prime Minister is excluded.

3 To produce consistent figures, office service costs for 1986–87 have been excluded.

4 Constant costs have been calculated using the Treasury's GDP deflator for 1985–86 rebased to 1984–85.