HC Deb 19 November 2003 vol 413 cc1096-7W
Mr. Flight

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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. [134700]

Ruth Kelly

The details requested are set out as follows.

Maintenance Renovation Council tax Running costs1
1997–98 0 0 304 62,306
1998–99 0 0 325 149,598
1999–2000 0 0 350 166,841
2000–01 0 0 375 124,456
2001–02 0 0 410 139,814
2002–03 0 0 445 156,570
1These costs include the proportion of capital charge (rent), rates, service charges and utilities in respect of the No.10 flat.

The increase in rent/rates from 1997–98 to 1998–99 is due to the introduction of capital charging to replace Property Repayment Service assessed rents as the method of accounting for Crown Freehold properties.