James McLaughlin 4 March 2011

Transcription

1 Propriety and Ethics Team Room Whitehall London SW1A 2AS Telephone Fax Web James McLaughlin 4 March 2011 FOI request: FOI Thank you for your of 8 February requesting information under the Freedom of Information Act You asked: Could you tell me the cost of each government Grace and Favour homes to the taxpayer please over the past 5 years? This should include the cost of the premises, rent and grounds and other maintenance, refurbishments, staff costs, professional fees,catering, security, food and drink, furnishings and decoration. Could you further tell me the average number of days the homes have been occupied by the office-holder in the past 12 months I can confirm that the Cabinet Office holds some of the information requested relating to the Prime Minister s residence and the flats in Admiralty House. Costs of official residences are a matter for the occupying Minister s department. The Cabinet Office holds information relating to the Prime Minister s residence where there is a maintenance budget for any refurbishment work to the Downing Street flat that is set alongside other budgets for Downing Street. Any costs accrued over and above the maintenance budget are met by those who occupy the flat. In line with successive administrations information on the costs to the public purse for the cost of any refurbishment will be published after the end of the financial year and will be accounted for in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts which can be accessed on the Cabinet Office website at Previous reports can be accessed on the Cabinet Office archived site at /about_the_cabinet_office/reports.aspx In addition this information has also been published by means of a Written Parliamentary Question. I attach an example. Chequers is run and managed by an independent trust and is maintained though an endowment administered by the Trustees to cover maintenance costs. In addition the Trust also receives an annual grant-in-aid from public funds towards maintenance costs and to cover the salaries of civilian staff employed at Chequers. Details of the grant in aid can also be accessed in Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource accounts. In terms of the flats in Admiralty House no staff are employed. Security is provided as part of the Cabinet Office facilities management contract. The costs of maintaining the flats are not separately identifiable from maintenance costs for the building as a whole.

2 The Cabinet Office holds no other information relating to your request. If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request or wish to request an internal review, you should write to: Roger Smethurst Head of Knowledge and Information Management Cabinet Office 70 Whitehall London SW1A 2AS You should note that the Cabinet Office will not normally accept an application for internal review if it is received more than two months after the date that the reply was issued. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Generally, the Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have exhausted the complaints procedure provided by the Cabinet Office. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF Yours sincerely Paul Ballinger

3 13 March 2009 : Column 803W Departmental Buildings Mr. Baron: To ask the Prime Minister (1) how much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving No. 10 Downing Street since July 2007; [248048] (2) much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving his Office s buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on such decoration. [248065] Mr. Hurd: To ask the Prime Minister how much was spent on the refurbishment and maintenance of (a) Downing Street offices and (b) the 10 and 11 Downing Street flats in (i) and (ii) [250320] Mr. Hoban: To ask the Prime Minister how much his Department spent on works and refurbishment to offices allocated to Ministers at Nos. 10 and 12 Downing Street in each month since July [253661] The Prime Minister: The Downing street estate is undergoing essential maintenance work required to maintain it to the standards appropriate to its Grade 1/2 listed status required by English Heritage. The total resource expenditure for maintaining the entire Downing street estate for the financial year was million. This includes the exceptional resource cost of 810,664, which has already been published, for essential work to the exterior of the Downing street estate again in consultation with English Heritage. Resource spend includes maintenance of fixed assets, the fabric of the building, floors, walls and ceilings and the upkeep and repair of heritage assets. Information on capital expenditure on improving Cabinet Office buildings, including the Downing street estate for is included in the annual Cabinet Office Resource Accounts. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Capital works included railings alterations, ICT cabling installation and alteration, Front Hall renovation, Cabinet Room redecoration, infrastructure work such as new risers for ICT cabling, repair of collapsed drain, installation of new Building Management System and energy monitoring equipment, access improvements works, such as corridor ramping and dropped kerbs in Downing street and security works.

4 As part of the resource spend, the cost of routine maintenance on the flat above No. 11 Downing street for the most recent financial years is set out as follows: , , ,150 Expenditure on other official residences is a matter for the relevant Department. Information for previous years is a matter of public record and can be found in the official report.

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