§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000,Official Report, column 50W, on ministerial residences, how much has been spent on each property and the residences within them for each year since 1 May 1997, and how much in each case for each year of the sums spent was spent on (a) kitchens, (b) bathrooms, (c) vehicle-related facilities and (d) leisure facilities. [125903]
970W
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 13 June 2000]: The cost of routine maintenance and repairs in 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively were: 10 Downing Street flat (£3,994 and £5,824), 11 Downing Street flat (£16,471 and £48,336), Government House, Pimlico (£2,604 and £14,848), and the Carlton Gardens flat (£19,093 and £3,510). For Admiralty House for 1997–98 the Cabinet Office spent £65,452 and the other Departments £63,901, £78,759 and £17,000 respectively. For the following year costs only fell to the Cabinet Office which were £63,650.
In 1997–98 and 1998–99 respectively, £1,896 and £1,336 was spent on maintenance and minor works on the accommodation in Hillsborough Castle used by Northern Ireland Office Ministers while on duty in Northern Ireland.
For details in respect of expenditure in 1999–2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 June 2000, Official Report, columns 50–51W.
It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on maintenance and repair in the manner requested.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what has been the total cost to public funds for each year since 1 May 1997 in respect of(a) entertainment and (b) staff costs for (i) Chequers and (ii) Chevening. [129227]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 5 July 2000]: Expenditure on entertainment was as follows:
£ Chequers Chevening 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 11,279 19,800 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 10,462 5,658 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 7,867 13,024 Staff costs figures for Chequers by amounts charged for these periods were as follows:
£ 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 264,950 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 315,292 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 364,319 Figures relating to Established Staff at Chevening are unavailable since costs are borne by the Chevening Trust and fall outside the jurisdiction of and budgets of the FCO. Charges for ad hoc staff employment are included in the figures for entertainment.
This expenditure is comparable with that of the previous Administration.