§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what is his estimate of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by his Department in(a) 1995–96, (b) 1996–97, (c) 1997–98 to date and (d) 1997–98 full year; and if he will make a statement. [26672]
§ Mr. HoonThe costs of refurbishment schemes are not monitored separately from other maintenance and improvement works and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. However, total figures for the Department, including the Court Service, are:(a) £26.3 million for 1995–96, (b) £19.4 million for 1996–97, (c) £6.5 million for 1997–98 to end December and (d) an estimated £19.4 million for 1997–98 full year. The majority of this has been spent by the Court Service to improve the facilities available in courts; £7 million was spent in 1995–96 accommodating most departmental headquarters staff in a single building and housing the newly created Court Service agency headquarters.