§ Mr. SteenTo ask the right hon. Member for Berwick upon Tweed, representing the House of Commons Commission, how many fire officers are employed full and part time in the Palace of Westminster; who pays for them; what is the cost to public funds and what has been the cost to public funds, with particular reference to the Palace and its estate, of implementing fire regulations.
§ Mr. BeithThe agreed complement of the Palace of Westminster fire section is one principal fire officer, four senior fire officers and 24 fire officers. Members of the fire section are civilian employees of the Metropolitan police. The cost of the service to the House of Commons was £570,000 in the last financial year. During the period 1993 to 1999, an average expenditure of approximately £1 million per annum has been planned towards meeting fire safety requirements throughout the parliamentary estate.