HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 c406W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much the Department spent on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by Ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134689]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

In the UK the Foreign and Commonwealth office maintains official residential accommodation for my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary at No 1 Carlton Gardens. The spend each year on(a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs since 1997 is as follows:

of the EU to 25 member states "will arguably be the most significant development since the foundation of the EEC". Concerning point (d), the White Paper provides the basis for this statement as follows: "The Union's powers clearly derive from the member states; and the draft Treaty preserves the principle that the most important decisions on EU issues are taken, by unanimity, by the Governments of member states."