HC Deb 18 April 2002 vol 383 cc1066-7W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002,Official Report, column 1161W, on refurbishment, what her estimate is of the cost of buildings refurbishment carried out by her Department in 2001–02. [50393]

Mr. Morley

Refurbishment work carried out in 2001–02 has an estimated value of £6,198,500 (estimated because final accounts have not yet been agreed on all projects). The largest project undertaken last year was the refurbishment of floors two to six of Ergon House in London (£4,300,000).

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002,Official Report, column 1161W, on refurbishment carried out by her Department, what her estimate is of the cost of refurbishment carried out as part of landlord lease obligations in each of the last four years. [50394]

Mr. Morley

The Department does not keep records of work carried out as part of landlords' lease obligations separately from general maintenance work. In many cases the distinction is blurred and it would be difficult to assign the work to one category or the other.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pursuant to her answer of 25 January 2002,Official Report, column 1161W, on refurbishment, for what reason the cost in 2000–01 increased by £655,000 over the previous year. [50397]

Mr. Morley

Refurbishment programmes vary from year to year depending upon departmental needs and available funding. In 2000–01 significant projects were undertaken on behalf of the British Cattle Movement Service in Workington and the Farming and Rural Conservation Agency (now part of the Rural Development Service) at Leeds and Wolverhampton.