§ Mr. Greg KnightTo ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what the estimated cost is of the work carried out to the Palace of Westminster in(a) 2002, (b) 2003 and (c) 2004; and how many workmen (i) are and (ii) have been employed on the Parliamentary Estate in connection therewith. [129606]
§ Sir Archy Kirk woodThe cost to the House of Commons of maintenance and new works on the Parliamentary Estate in the financial year 2002–03 was £29.5 million. For the financial year 2003–04 the forecast cost is £24.2 million and for 2004–05 it is £18.4 million. Due to the many estate-wide services, it is not possible to provide accurate figures for individual buildings or to provide figures by calendar years. During the summer recess of 2002 approximately 1,200 contractors' personnel were employed on site and in the summer of 2003 the number is approximately 1,000.
The House of Commons Commission can answer only for those parts of the Parliamentary Estate for which this House is responsible.