§ Mr. LansleyTo ask the Prime Minister what the total expenditure on 10 Downing street and the Prime Minister's office was, in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) 1999–2000; and what his estimate is for 2000–01. [151372]
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Lewes (Mr. Baker) on 21 July 2000,Official Report, column 347W and on 2 November 2000, Official Report, column 575W. The cost for the full year 1997–98 was £7.3 million. The cost of my Office from 1 April 2000 to 31 December 2000 was £8.3 million.
593WAs a result of a change in accounting policy, figures before 1997–98 and after 1 April 1997 are not exactly comparable, but for completeness, the recorded cost of the Prime Minister's Office in 1996–97 was £7 million.