§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister (1) if he will list the residences made available to Ministers in the course of their duties, indicating in each case the location of the residence, the council tax banding and the Minister to whom each residence is allocated; [112048]
(2) if he will list for each residence currently made available to Ministers the sum spent in 1999 on (a) council tax, (b) rent, (c) repairs and maintenance and (d) redecoration. [112049]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 28 February 2000]: The cost to the Government in 1999–2000 of the routine maintenance and rent of Ministers' official residences is estimated at £1 million. In the last year of the previous administration expenditure was £1.2 million.
Numbers 10 and 11 Downing street and Carlton gardens have traditionally been the residences of the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary. The flats in Admiralty House and the Government House in Pimlico, which have in the past been assigned to a variety of Ministers, are currently occupied by the Deputy Prime Minister, President of the Council, the Minister for the Cabinet Office and the Secretary of State for Education and Employment.
All these properties are in council tax banding H. The level and responsibility for payment of council tax is determined on whether the property is the Minister's main or secondary residence. If a main residence, the responsibility for payment of the tax falls to the Minister. If the property is a secondary residence, responsibility for payment falls to the responsible Department. Two Ministers occupying flats in Admiralty House met their 50W own council tax payments, as did I. Departments met the other payments, which were £350 for each property in 1999–2000.
Rent and capital charges in 1999–2000 on each property were: 10 Downing street (£204,000), 11 Downing street (£287,000), Admiralty House flats (£75,185, £91,013, £94,091), Carlton gardens (£27,300) and Government House in Pimlico (£100,219).
The cost of routine maintenance and repairs in 1999–2000 were: 10 Downing street (£3,664), 11 Downing street (£32,189), Admiralty House flats (£38,442), Carlton gardens (£24,561) and Government House in Pimlico (£2,055).
In addition, during 1999–2000 as part of a repair, maintenance and replacement programme, agreed with English Heritage, £341,000 was spent on the roof, windows and external features of Admiralty House, a Grade 1 listed building.
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other Northern Ireland Ministers have use of accommodation in Hillsborough Castle while on duty in Northern Ireland. In 1999, £12,941 was spent on maintenance and minor works on these properties. Other costs are not separately identifiable.
In addition, the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland also have the use of Chequers, Dorneywood, Chevening and Bute House. None of these is owned by the Government.
The Lord Chancellor has an official residence in the House of Lords which is provided in his capacity as Speaker of the House of Lords. The running costs are met by the House of Lords authorities and do not fall to the Government.