HC Deb 03 March 1988 vol 128 cc681-2W
Mr. Cohen

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) of 8 December,Official Report, column 97, he is now able to give the final cost of the refurbishment and building work at Richmond terrace, Whitehall; if he will identify separately (a) the cost of carpets and (b) the cost of gold leaf; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Chope

On the total cost of construction and fitting out of Richmond House, I have nothing to add to my answer of 8 December. The final cost will depend on settlement of the final account including claims still being negotiated.

The cost of carpets for the entire building was £202,760 including VAT. There was no expenditure on gold leaf.

Mr. Cran

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the annual cost to the Exchequer of rents, rates and maintenance of all Government buildings and agencies within London; what has been the percentage increase over the past 10 years; and what has been the increase in the annual rate of inflation over the same period.

Mr. Christopher Chope

I refer my hon. Friend to my answer to his question concerning accommodation in London for the Department of the Environment, on Wednesday 2 March. The percentage increases in expenditure by the Property Services Agency on rents and maintenance over the 10 years period to March 1987 for buildings occupied by Government Departments in London are 110 and 42 per cent. respectively. The percentage increase for contributions in lieu of rates is not available. Equivalent figures for Government-funded agencies are not held centrally and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Over the same period inflation, as measured by the GDP deflator, was 116 per cent.—representing an average annual increase of 9 per cent.