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Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: In common with most other Budget measures, there were no such consultations in preparing the compliance cost assessment to which the hon. Gentleman refers. However, Customs and Excise has stated that the assessment will be reviewed in the light of any comments received.
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the assumptions he made as to the increase in gross domestic product when calculating the United Kingdom contribution to the European Union budget for each year until 1999.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory: The growth assumptions used were consistent with those set out in the Budget of29 November.
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what date he plans to publish the Finance Bill;
(2) what plans he has to publish the Finance Bill before the House rises for the Christmas recess.
Sir George Young: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Banks) on Thursday 8 December, Official Report, column 330.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average amount of VAT collected by one Customs and Excise VAT collection officer annually.
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory [holding answer 8 December 1994]: For the year ending March 1994, Customs and Excise deployed 5,429 staff years on VAT visiting. These staff identified errors in traders' records which when corrected resulted in an increase in the net liability of £1,322 million, or an average of £243,507 per staff year. These figures do not take account of errors that traders might have found and corrected themselves.
Customs and Excise has recently reviewed the way in which it deploys staff to ensure compliance with VAT requirements so as to ensure increased effectiveness. Over the coming years, effort will be refocused on better education to assist businesses to get their VAT declarations right. In parallel with this, targeting of visits and assurance techniques will be improved.
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Mr. Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the percentage of those with mortgages who are self-employed, employed on fixed-term contracts or who are employed on a part-time basis.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 8 December 1994]: Estimates from the spring 1994 labour force survey for Great Britain show that of all heads of households who were owner-occupiers with mortgages, 15 per cent. were self-employed; 2 per cent. were employed on fixed-term contracts; and 4 per cent. were working part time either as an employee or self-employed. These three groups make up 19 per cent. of all mortgage holders.
Mr. Denham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many new mortgages have been taken out in each of the last five years (a) in total and (b) by geographic region.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 8 December 1994]: Data for the total number of mortgages advanced are available in table 10.4 of "Housing and Construction Statistics 1983 1993" published by the Department of the Environment. These data are not published on a regional basis. However, the first column in table 10.9 of the same publication gives the percentage breakdown of new mortgages by region only for advances made by building societies.
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the change in real personal disposable income over the whole of 1994 and in each quarter of 1994, both in aggregate and on a per capita basis.
Mr. Nelson [holding answer 9 December 1994]: At this stage, quarterly information on real personal disposable income in aggregate and on a per capita basis is available only for the first half of 1994. It can be found on the Central Statistical Office database, series CECP and CAIU respectively. The Budget forecast is for no change in the level of real personal disposable income in 1994 as a whole compared with 1993. Quarterly forecasts are not published.
Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the main expected effects on the public accounts from 1994 95 to 1997 98 of the national lottery, including the effects on general Government expenditure, general Government revenue, the general Government borrowing requirement and the public sector borrowing requirement.
Mr. Aitken [holding answer 9 December 1994]: Proceeds paid into the national lottery distribution fund are part of general Government revenue and spending of these proceeds part of general Government expenditure. The GGR figures in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" include projections of £0.2 billion in 1994 95, £0.7 billion in 1995 96, £0.9 billion in 1996 97 and £1.1 billion in 1997 98. These figures do not include lottery duty because the net effect of the lottery on tax revenues is expected to be broadly neutral after redistributive effects. The GGE figures include projections of £0.0 billion, £0.5 billion, £1.0 billion and £1.0 billion
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respectively for those years. The difference between these flows in any particular year affects the general Government borrowing requirement and the public sector borrowing requirement. The spending of these proceeds is outside the public expenditure control total.Mr. Andrew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the main effects on the public sector accounts from 1992 93 to 1997 98 of the re-classification of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. as a public corporation, including the effects on the public expenditure new control total, general Government expenditure, the general Government borrowing requirement and the public sector borrowing requirement.
Mr. Aitken [holding answer 9 December 1994]: The figures for the control total contained in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" include the following amounts for BNFL's external financing requirements for the years in question:
£ million |1992-93|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98 ---------------------------------------------------------------- EFR |-392 |-653 |-422 |-411 |-573 |-244
The reclassification of BNFL as a public corporation in national accounts had no effect on general Government expenditure or the general Government borrowing requirement. However, it did mean that BNFL's market and overseas borrowing became part of the public sector borrowing requirement. The amounts in each year are:
£ million |1992-93|1993-94|1994-95|1995-96|1996-97|1997-98 ---------------------------------------------------------------- EFR |-417 |-679 |-449 |-439 |-601 |-272
The difference between the two sets of figures represents the payment of the fossil fuel levy to BNFL which is now included in its external financing requirement but was previously outside the control total. These payments have been included in general Government expenditure since the 1993 national accounts Blue Book.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Attorney-General if he will list those services that have been market-tested by his Department and won by the private sector, indicating the organisation that won the tender and its value.
The Attorney-General: The reprographics service of the Crown Prosecution Service headquarters was market-tested in 1991 and the contract awarded to Williams Lea FM. The value of the contract is approximately £1 million.
Mr. Mackinlay: To ask the Attorney-General what information he, the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland or the RUC have about approaches made by Father Bernard Marshall of the Norbertine Canons
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based in County Cavan to a family whose children had been abused in Northern Ireland by Father Brendan Smyth after warrants for the latter's deportation had been delivered by the RUC to the Garda in April 1993 and prior to his subsequent conviction in January 1994; and if he will make a statement.Sir John Wheeler: I have been asked to reply.
The RUC investigated an allegation from a member of the public of an attempt to pervert the course of justice by taking a statement from a member of the family of a victim of Brendan Smyth. In the light of this statement, it was decided that no further action was appropriate.
Mr. Barnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the value since February 1994 of monthly supplies of humanitarian aid from (a) Government and (b) non-governmental organisations to Bosnia-Herzegovina; and what were the monthly targets.
Mr. Baldry: Monthly figures for the value of humanitarian aid to Bosnia-Herzegovina since February 1994 are not available. According to the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs, the value of 1994 aid contributions to the former Yugoslavia reported to the DHA by donors as at 27 October 1994 was:
5 |$ ----------------------------------------------------- Governments |367,872,094 European Union |62,198,805 UN Agencies |12,597,735 Red Cross |42,054,618 Non-Government Organisations |131,254,905 Others |7,545,230 |-------- Total |623,523,387
UN figures for food aid targets and deliveries to
Bosnia-Herzegovina are:
|Target |Delivered |(tonnes) |(tonnes) ---------------------------------------- 1994 February |42,000 |22,000 March |47,000 |43,000 April |27,000 |25,000 May |33,000 |27,000 June |31,000 |25,000 July |33,000 |22,000 August |23,000 |13,000 September |23,000 |18,000 October |23,000 |25,000
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish the current list of parliamentary private secretaries and the Ministers to whom each is attached.
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The Prime Minister: The list is as follows:
|Name ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Minister for Agriculture- Mr. W. Waldegrave |Mr. O. Heald Minister of State-Mr. M. Jack |Miss E. Nicholson Defence Secretary of State-Mr. M. Rifkind |Mr. H. Bellingham Ministers of State-Mr. R. Freeman and Mr. N. Soames |Mr. S. Coe Duchy of Lancaster Chancellor of the Duchy-Mr. D. Hunt |Mr. N. Evans Education Secretary of State-Mrs. G. Shephard |Mr. G. Kynoch Minister of State-Mr. E. Forth |Mr. J. Whittingdale Employment Secretary of State-Mr. M. Portillo |Mr. D Amess Minister of State-Miss A. Widdecombe |Dr. R. Spink Environment Secretary of State-Mr. J. Gummer |Mr. D. French Minister of State-Viscount Ullswater, Mr. D. Curry and Mr. R. Atkins |Mr. J. Hayes Foreign Office Secretary of State-Mr. D. Hurd |Mr. M. Robinson Ministers of State-Mr. A. Goodlad and Mr. D. Davis |Mr. E. Garnier Minister for Overseas Development- Lady Chalker-and PUSS-Mr. T. Baldry |Mr. D. Faber Health Secretary of State-Mrs. V. Bottomley |Mr. K. Mans Minister of State-Mr. G. Malone |Mr. P. Butler Home Office Secretary of State-Mr. M. Howard |Mr. D. Lidington Minister of State-Mr. D. Maclean and Mr. M. Forsyth |Mr J. Arnold Minister of State-Lady Blatch |Mr. J. Clappison Laws Officers Department Attorney-General-Sir N. Lyell and Solicitor-General-Sir. D. Spencer |Mr. G. Streeter Minister without Portfolio-Mr. J. Hanley |Mr. P. Atkinson National Heritage Secretary of State-Mr. S. Dorrell |Mr. G. Brandreth Northern Ireland Office Secretary of State-Sir P. Mayhew |Mr. R. Spring Minister of State-Sir J. Wheeler and Mr. M. Ancram |Mr. R. Robertson Prime Minister |Mr. J. Ward Privy Council Office Lord President and Leader of the House of Commons-Mr. T. Newton |Mr. J. Marshall Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords-The Viscount Cranborne |Miss C. Gillan Scottish Office Secretary of State-Mr. I. Lang |Mr. S. Coombs Social Security Secretary of State-Mr. P Lilley |Mr. P. Merchant Ministers of State-Mr. W. Hague and Lord MacKay |Mr. C. Hendry PUSSs-Mr. A. Burt, Mr. J. Arbuthnot and Mr. R. Evans |Ms J. Lait Trade and Industry President of the Board-Mr. M. Heseltine |Mr. R. Ottaway Minister of State-Mr. T Eggar |Mr. P. Luff Ministers of State-Lord Ferrers and Mr. R. Needham |Mr. A. Rowe Transport Secretary of State-Dr. B. Mawhinney |Mr. M. Trend Minister of State-Mr. J. Watts |Mr. T. Dicks Treasury Chancellor of the Exchequer-Mr. K. Clarke |Mrs A. Knight Chief Secretary-Mr. J. Aitken |Mr. P. Ainsworth Financial Secretary-Sir G. Young Paymaster General- Mr. D. Heathcoat-Amory and Economic Secretary- Mr. A. Nelson |Dr. C. Goodson- Wickes Welsh Office Secretary of State-Mr. J. Redwood |Mr. D. Evennett
Dr. Wright: To ask the Prime Minister if he will publish a current list of (a) all parliamentary private secretaries and (b) unpaid members of the Government.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood). The Minister without portfolio is the only member of the Government who does not draw a ministerial salary.
Mr. Kaufman: To ask the Prime Minister how many Parliamentary Private Secretaries there are; and if he will provide comparable figures for November 1989, November 1984 and May 1979.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 29 November 1994]: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood).
Details of parliamentary private secretaries for earlier dates are a matter of public record.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will itemise the refurbishment works undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.
The Prime Minister: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment today at columns 436 39 .
In 1991 92 the kitchens used for catering for official functions in 10 Downing street were refurbished to bring them into line with the requirements of the then new food hygiene regulations. The cost of these works was £122,000 excluding value added tax and fees.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister what was the total expenditure on energy for each property owned or leased by his Department for the use of Ministers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
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Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister (1) what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available;
(2) what was the total expenditure on energy for (a) No. 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
The Prime Minister: The total expenditure on energy for 10 Downing street in each of the last three financial years was:
|£ ---------------------- 1991-92 |39,000 1992-93 |39,000 1993-94 |33,000
The Chequers estate is the responsibility of the Chequers Trust.
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister what is his policy concerning the use of No. 10 Downing street for non-official or party political functions.
The Prime Minister: Ministers under this and previous Administrations have been allowed--at their own or party expense--to host non-official or party receptions or functions in Downing street. All catering, staff and other direct expenses must be met by the organisers of the event.
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Prime Minister how many bottles of (a) whisky, (b) other spirits and (c) wine were bought from public funds for use at No.10 Downing street and the Prime Minister's other official residences in 1993 94; and how much they cost.
The Prime Minister: Disaggregated information of this sort could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Bayley: To ask the Prime Minister how many meetings or functions have been or will be held at No. 10 Downing street in December 1994 at which alcoholic drinks will be available.
The Prime Minister: Such information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister what charges are made to organisations or persons holding non-official or party functions at No. 10 Downing street in respect of overheads or directs costs associated with such functions.
The Prime Minister: Where charitable or other non-official events are held at No. 10 Downing street, the organisers are responsible for all catering and staff costs, as well as other miscellaneous direct costs. Organisers may use the kitchens or other facilities at No. 10 Downing street.
Mr. Kirkwood: To ask the Prime Minister how many functions have been held at (a) No. 10 Downing street and (b) Chequers since November 1990 where the cost of refreshments was paid by a political party.
The Prime Minister: The answer is:
(a) 52
(b) 3
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Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister what consideration he is giving to how shareholders might be given additional powers to influence boardroom pay and perks.
The Prime Minister: Shareholders are already able to influence directors' remuneration. The Government are always ready to consider ideas for improving shareholders' powers or the information which is made available to them. It was announced in the White Paper on competitiveness-- CM 2563--that the Government have been reviewing a number of aspects of company law, including directors' duties.
Mr. Gordon Prentice: To ask the Prime Minister how many parliamentary questions tabled in the last Session of Parliament were not answered on the ground that the information sought was not held centrally by his Department.
The Prime Minister: Approximately 1 per cent.
Mr. David Atkinson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the CSCE summit meeting in Budapest.
The Prime Minister: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Romford (Sir M. Neubert) on 7 December 1994, Official Report, columns 220 22.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list those services that have been market-tested by his Department and won by the private sector, indicating the organisation that won the tender and its value.
The Prime Minister: For these purposes, my office is part of the Cabinet Office. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Office of Public Service and Science at column 455 .
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Mr. Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister what plans he has to visit the state of Oregon, United States of America.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister how much has been spent on security for (a) Cabinet members, (b) ex-Cabinet members and (c) other national politicians in each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 December 1994]: Since April 1991 about £4.4 million has been spent on the installation of protective security measures at the homes of Cabinet Ministers, ex-Cabinet Ministers and other hon. Members. These measures were provided on the advice of those responsible for protective security and reflected on assessment of the threat to the individuals concerned. All spending is carefully monitored and controlled by those responsible.
Information in the form requested for before that date is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister how many staff have been employed by the security and intelligence services during each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 December 1994]: Staff numbers for the security and intelligence services for 1993 94 and 1994 95 were published in the 1994 95 supply estimates--class XIX, Cabinet Office, Privy Council Office and Parliament etcetera. They totalled 10,766 and 10,516 respectively. Figures for earlier years are not publicly available, and I do not propose to publish such data retrospectively.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Prime Minister what has been the budget for the security and intelligence services during each of the last five years.
The Prime Minister [holding answer 9 December 1994]: The expenditure of the agencies was published for the first time in the 1994 95 Supply estimates--class XIX, Cabinet Office, Privy Council Office and Parliament etcetera. Aggregate expenditure in 1992 93 was £859.6 million. Estimated outturn for 1993 94 was £961.3 million and net provision for 1994 95 was £881.5 million. Figures for earlier years are not publicly available, and I do not propose to publish such data retrospectively.
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34. Mr. Llew Smith: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will establish a review of the differential charging policies of Government Departments for information requested under the code of practice on access to official information under the open government initiative.
40. Mr. Bennett: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps he is considering to improve the openness of government.
Mr. David Hunt: I am continuing to implement the policy set down in the White Paper on open government.
38. Mr. Fisher: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much money has been spent on promoting and advertising his White Paper "Open Government" in the past year.
Mr. David Hunt: Some £51,000 since April this year.
35. Mr. Skinner: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what assessment he has made of the performance of the citizens charter.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The citizens charter has led to considerable improvements in public services. Details of these improvements have been published in the citizens charter reports in 1992 and 1994. There have also been 227 charter mark awards, each one recognising excellence in public service delivery.
37. Mrs Angela Knight: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress his Department has made in making it easier for citizens to complain about the delivery of public services.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: Well-publicised and easy to use complaints procedures are a key principle of the citizens charter. In addition, our independent complaints task force is looking at how public services handle complaints and where improvements can be made.
39. Mr. Booth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what are the latest figures for people using Internet to obtain government information.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: In the past two months, there have been 332599 requests for government information from Internet users.
Mr. Milburn: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will itemise the refurbishment works
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undertaken on buildings housing departmental staff in the last three years, indicating the costs involved and the nature of the refurbishments.Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The following refurbishment projects were undertaken and paid for from departmental funds.
Civil Service College Year |Location |Cost |Description of |Project -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |Sunningdale Park |292,000 |Part of an on-going |programme to refurbish |previously low-quality |lecture accommodation, |adding improved |insulation, new windows, |new toilet facilities for |disabled students and |general upgrade of |existing toilet facilities. 1991-92 |Sunningdale Park |130,000 |Conversion of a |basement store area to |provide office |accommodation for staff |transferred from London. 1992-93 |Sunningdale Park | 23,000 |Part of an on-going |programme to refurbish |previously low-quality |lecture accommodation, |adding improved |insulation, new windows, |new toilet facilities for |disabled students and |general upgrade of |existing toilet facilities. 1992-93 |Sunningdale Park | 32,000 |Works to provide a |ground floor coffee |lounge and bar to enable |disabled staff and |students access to |facilities enjoyed by |others. 1993-94 |Sunningdale Park |130,000 |Works to upgrade staff |leisure facility to enable |it to be used by the |public at weekends.
HMSO |Cost Year |Location |£ |Description of |Project ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1993-94 |Belfast | 54,000 |Refurbishment of bookshop. 1993-94 |Belfast |200,000 |Refurbishment of office |accommodation following |flood damage due to |a burst water main. 1993-94 |Manchester | 74,000 |Refurbishment of bookshop. 1993-94 |Birmingham | 40,000 |Refurbishment of reprographics |unit allowing surplus |space to be reused. 1993-94 |Norwich | 8,500 |Refurbishment of toilets. 1993-94 |London |124,500 |Conversion of warehouse |space to provide |office accommodation, |and upgrading of toilets.
Occupational Health Service |Cost Year |Location |£ |Description of |Project ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |Cardiff | 1,805 |Installation of secondary double glazing. 1991-92 |London | 7,500 |Installation of new fire doors and air |conditioning unit. 1992-93 |Edinburgh | 1,101 |Refurbishment and general uplift of |conference facilities. 1992-93 |London | 6,500 |Creation of a new room to carry out |physiotherapy following the award of a contract to OHS by LFCDA. 1993-94 |Edinburgh |3,350 |Refurbishment and redecoration of |toilet and kitchen facilities adjacent to a conference room. 1993-94 |London |9,850 |Installation of air conditioning |and redecoration and refurbishment of public reception area.
Central Cabinet Office |Cost Year |Location |£ |Description of |Project ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1992-93 |London |367,750 |Refurbishment of kitchen in the staff canteen |to comply with the requirements of the then new Food Hygiene Act. 1992-93 |London | 81,000 |Refurbishment of a suite of rooms in 70 Whitehall. 1992-93 |London | 9,790 |Refurbishment of office accommodation as part of |a rolling programme. 1992-93 |London |450,000 |Refurbishment of Albany house, following |vacation by previous occupants, to provide |single-site accommodation for newly created |Office of Science and Technology. 1993-94 |London | 19,990 |Creation of new office space to house |support staff for the Scott inquiry team. 1993-94 |London | 30,700 |Refurbishment of reprographics unit |accommodation as part of a rolling programme. 1993-94 |London | 48,93 |Refurbishment of office accommodation as |part of a rolling programme. 1993-94 |London | 15,675 |Refurbishment of existing office |accommodation to provide purpose built suite |for switchboard operators. 1993-94 |London | 2,380 |Refurbishment of existing office to |adapt it for use as a computer training room. 1993-94 |London | 3,520 |Expenditure on refurbishment of a |suite of rooms in 70 Whitehall falling to |be paid in 1993-94.
Central office of information |Cost Year |Location |£ |Description of |Project ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1991-92 |London |124,509 |Refurbishment of headquarters |office accommodation as part of a rolling programme. 1991-92 |London | 5,235 |Modifications to power and lighting |as part of a rolling programme. 1992-93 |London | 89,912 |Refurbishment of headquarters office |accommodation as part of a rolling programme. 1992-93 |London | 6,562 |Modifications to electrics as part of |a rolling programme. 1993-94 |London |120,562 |Refurbishment of headquarters office |accommodation as part of a rolling programme. 1993-94 |London | 58,403 |Modifications to electrics as part of |a rolling programme.
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what was the total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings by (a) his Department and (b) his agencies in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
Mr. Robert G. Hughes: The total expenditure on energy for offices and buildings in my Department and its agencies for each of the last three years was:
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