§ Mr. Martyn JonesTo ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will estimate the additional expense to public funds of the two week September sitting of the House; and if he will make a statement. [131860]
§ Norman BakerTo ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what extra costs have been incurred as a result of the sitting of the House in September, broken down by(a) staff costs, (b) costs relating to building works and (c) other costs; and if he will make a statement. [131867]
§ Sir Archy KirkwoodThe sitting of the House in September has not increased the total number of sitting days. The main costs of accommodation and staff were not affected appreciably by the two week return. The building work was planned, as far as was practicable, on the basis of the revised arrangements in order to cause minimum disruption. It is impossible to determine with any accuracy what the actual costs of alternative contracts might have been, but it is estimated that some £90,000 of additional House of Commons works-related expenditure was incurred directly by the change to the recess period, out of a total forecast spend of around £24 million. In addition, it is estimated that the income from public tours was about £40,000 less as the result of moving them to later in September.