§ Mr. ForthTo ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the most recent refurbishments of the living accommodation at No. 11 Downing Street; what was its total cost; when it was carried out; what was the tendering process; if he will list the companies to which contracts were awarded; and what was the country of origin of fixtures and fittings. [22024]
§ The Prime MinisterThe repairs and refurbishment of No. 11 Downing Street are part of a continuing programme of work to Nos. 10 and 11, covering the domestic accommodation, the offices and the public rooms. Both buildings are Grade 1 listed and, given their historic role, have to be kept at standards appropriate to such buildings, as laid down by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, in consultation with Westminster City Council and English Heritage as appropriate.
Over the past five years, the total expenditure on No. 10 and No. 11 combined has been respectively £118,000 in 1993–94; £108,000 in 1994–95; £381,000 in 1995–96; £190,000 in 1996–97; and £126,000 in 1997–98. Over this period £155,000 has been spent on the flat in No. 10 and £105,000 on the flat in No. 11. This has included the reconstruction of kitchens in No. 10 and No. 11, redecoration of parts of the flats as part of the rolling programme of refurbishment, rewiring, scaffolding costs, the cost of removing debris, and additional security costs. Both work schedules have been designed to refurbish parts of Nos. 10 and 11, some of which had remained untouched for over 30 years, and in the case of No. 11 to accommodate the fact that previously unused rooms are now used as family bedrooms.
In every case proper tendering procedures were followed. For security reasons it has not been the practice to name companies who work in Downing Street, but there has been no recent change to the existing list of approved contractors employed on the accommodation work in Nos. 10 and 11.
No country of origin for materials, fixtures or fittings was specified in the contracts awarded. The only requirement placed on contractors is that all materials, fixtures and fittings should meet current regulations and the performance specifications.
All expenditure is within existing budgets, both No. 10 and Cabinet Office, as inherited from the last Government.