§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how often his Department and its associated public bodies undergo portable appliance testing; and what the cost of testing is. [175979]
§ Ruth KellyPortable appliance testing is carried out in my Departments and agencies on the basis of regular programmes in accordance with guidelines issued by the Health and Safety Executive. For HM Treasury, Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, the Valuation Office and the Office for National Statistics, the costs of testing fall within the building management charges and are not separately available. For the other Departments, the total combined approximate annual cost is £20,000.