§ Mr. Gerald HowarthTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is the cost of the current refurbishment of offices used by his Department within the Palace of Westminster. [6567]
§ Mr. HoonThere is currently no refurbishment work being carried out in the offices used by the Lord Chancellor's Department within the Palace of Westminster. There is however, a proposal to refurbish, in a way consistent with the conservation and preservation of a building of such outstanding national importance, the Lord Chancellor's Official Residence together with the office he uses in the Palace of Westminster. This is shortly to be considered by the House of Lords Administration and Works Sub Committee who will decide how to proceed on the basis of a memorandum submitted by Black Rod, who is independent of the Lord Chancellor and responsible for the care and upkeep of the House of Lords accommodation within the Palace of Westminster. They still have to take a number of decisions which will affect the costs of the proposal, but it is estimated that the total cost of both projects will be in the region of £650,000.