§ Sir Richard BodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost of maintaining the European Parliamentary presence in Strasbourg in 1996; and how much has been spent upgrading the buildings there and in Brussels. [6096]
§ Mr. Doug HendersonThere is no readily available break down of the complete cost of the EP presence in Strasbourg. Title 2 chapter 20 of Section 1 of the 1996 budget of the EU (Official Journal, volume 39 of 29 January 1996) gives details of investments in immovable property, rental of buildings and associated costs for the EP's Strasbourg site at a total cost of 23,836,078 ecu (£16,713,994). Title 2, Section 1, articles 204 and 209 of the 1996 budget and Title 2, Section 1 articles 204 and 209 of the 1997 budget (Official Journal, volume 40 of 14 February 1997) give details of costs of fitting-out of premises and other expenditure on buildings, in Brussels and Strasbourg, in 1996 and 1997 at a total cost of 21,371,000 ecu (£14,991,756).