HC Deb 18 January 1995 vol 252 c491W
Mrs. Maddock

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 8 December,Official Report, column 327, when the modernised lighting behind the clock faces of the Great Clock will become fully operational; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ray Powell

The new lighting will become fully operational at dusk on 19 January 1995 and it will save some £1,000 in electricity and £2,500 in maintenance costs each year. Thus, the installation cost of £20,000 will be recovered from savings in six years. The new fittings that have been installed are a special type of fluorescent bulb, which works on a high frequency induction principle. They have a lamp life of 60,000 hours which is about 13 years of normal use, and the output from each 55 watt bulb is equivalent to a 250 watt conventional incandescent lamp.