§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate she has made of the tourist revenue generated in 2002 from visits938W to (a) the Palace of Westminster, (b) Buckingham Palace, (c) the London Eye and (d) the Tower of London; and if she will set out the methodology she uses to calculate such figures. [137680]
§ Estelle MorrisWe have not made an estimate of the tourism revenue generated by visits to these places. However, this Department is responsible for the maintenance and presentation of the Tower of London through its contract with Historic Royal Palaces, which relies on revenue generated by the palaces. Buckingham Palace is one of the Occupied Royal Palaces: the Royal Household receives Grant-in-Aid to meet property and service costs. We have obtained the following figures from the bodies responsible concerning tourist revenues
The Tower of London: gross revenue in 2002 from admissions, retail and concessions was £23,319,000.Buckingham Palace: the State Rooms were open during August, September and part of October 2002. Gross total revenue from visitors was £5,491,000, comprising £2,993,000 for admissions, and £2,498,000 for shop sales.Palace of Westminster: House of Commons Officials have advised that, according to unaudited accounts, gross revenue from tickets and merchandise for tours of the Palace in 2002 was £605,000.The London Eye: is a commercial attraction and we do not have its revenue figures.