HC Deb 07 November 1996 vol 284 cc606-9W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, columns 220–21, what were the (a) objectives and (b) costs of the work to restore (i) the two fresco paintings off Central Lobby, (ii) the fresco painting in the House of Lords Chamber and (iii) the 35 oil paintings. [2926]

Sir Raymond Powell

The work was to conserve, restore and maintain the value of works of art. The cost to the House was approximately £30,000. The total cost of some £50,000 was shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, columns 220–21, what were the (a) objectives and (b) costs of the work on the second phase of overhaul of the Carriage Gates. [2905]

Sir Raymond Powell

The work on the second phase of the overhaul of the Carriage Gates was necessary to maintain the gate mechanism for security and for stonework and metalwork restoration. The cost to the House was approximately £29,400. The total cost of some £49,000 was shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Work Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, columns 220–21, what are the expected final costs of the full parliamentary data and video network cabling at (a) Star Chamber Court block, (b) Norman Shaw North floors 1 and 2, (c) House of Lords west front ground and first floors and (d) 1 The Abbey Garden. [2900]

Sir Raymond Powell

The expected final cost of this year's PDVN cabling work is as follows:(a) Star Chamber Court block and (c) House of Lords west front approximately £1.6 million—shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis, cost to the House £960,000, (b) Norman Shaw North floors 1 and 2 (£300,000), and (d) 1 The Abbey Garden is administered by the House of Lords, for which I have no responsibility.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, columns 220–21, what proportion of the total spending was in areas and

Project Objective In-year cost to the House £ In-year total cost1 £
Reconstruction of:

(a) Members' Cafeteria

(b) Strangers' Cafeteria

 Following a resolution of the House, to meet statutory requirements with regard to health and safety, hygiene, fire, ventilation and other building standards 3 million 3 million
Repair work to

(c) the roof of the Lords' Chamber

(d) the Royal Gallery

 To cure leaks 0.66 million 1.1 million
(e) PDVN cabling2 To implement the resolution of the House to install the PDVN Palace: 0.96 million

Norman Shaw North: 0.30 million

 1.6 million

0.3 million
(f) Connection of all hon. Members' offices to colour televisions with clean feed from the Chamber To implement the resolution of the House 0.145 million 0.145 million
(g) New servery in the Members' Tea Room To implement the resolution of the House to improve health, safety and hygiene standards 85,000 85,000
(h) Furniture restoration for the Members' Tea Room To maintain appropriate standards 31,000 31,000
(i) Renovation of the Speakers outer office To maintain appropriate standards 24,000 24,000
(j) Redecoration of the Churchill Room To maintain appropriate standards 24,000 24,000
facilities used by (a) hon. Members, (b) House of Commons staff, (c) visitors, (d) disabled visitors and (e) disabled hon. Members, civil servants and staff. [2948]

Sir Raymond Powell

Since Members, staff and visitors share many areas of the parliamentary estate, it is not possible separately to identify the costs. During the last three years, considerable progress has been made on improving access to the parliamentary estate for disabled people. Depending upon the nature of an individual's disability, most of the spending in the summer of 1996 has been on facilities potentially available to people with disabilities.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October,Official Report, columns 220–22, what were the (i) objectives and (ii) total individual costs of the (a) reconstruction of the Members' Cafeteria, (b) reconstruction of the Strangers' Cafeteria, (c) repair work to the roof of the Lords Chamber, (d) repair work to the roof of the Royal Gallery, (e) full parliamentary data and video network cabling, (f) connection of all hon. Members' offices to colour televisions with clean feed from the Chamber, (g) new servery in the Members' Tea Room, (h) furniture restoration for the Members' Tea room, (i) renovation of the Speaker's outer office, (j) redecoration of the Churchill Room, (k) the refurbishment of the lavatories in (1) Upper Committee Corridor South, (2) opposite Committee Room 7 and (3) Commons Court block, second floor, and (l) refurbishment of the cash machines corridor; and if he will make a statement. [2947]

Sir Raymond Powell

The objectives forecast in-year costs relating to work in the House of Commons are as follows:

Project Objective In-year cost to the House £ In-year total cost1 £
(k) The refurbishment of the lavatories in:
(1) Upper Committee Corridor South To provide adequate capacity as required by Members 16,800 28,000
(2) Opposite Committee Room 7 To conclude last years work on adaptions to provide a lavatory for the disabled 15,000 25,000
(3) Commons Court Block— second floor To maintain appropriate standards 9,000 15,000
(1) Refurbishment of the cash machines corridor; To complete the wheelchair access route, improve facilities as requested by Members and maintain appropriate standards 72,000 120,000
1 The cost of shared projects listed is split between House of Commons and House of Lords in a ratio of 60:40
2 PDVN cabling was also installed in areas administered by the House of Lords for which I have no responsibility