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Ministerial Residences
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer of 5 June 2000, Official Report, column 50W, on ministerial residences, how much has been spent on each property and the residences within them for each year since 1 May 1997, and how much in each case for each year of the sums spent was spent on (a) kitchens, (b) bathrooms, (c) vehicle-related facilities and (d) leisure facilities. [125903]
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The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 June 2000]: The cost of routine maintenance and repairs in 1997-98 and 1998-99 respectively were: 10 Downing Street flat (£3,994 and £5,824), 11 Downing Street flat (£16,471 and £48,336), Government House, Pimlico (£2,604 and £14,848), and the Carlton Gardens flat (£19,093 and £3,510). For Admiralty House for 1997-98 the Cabinet Office spent £65,452 and the other Departments £63,901, £78,759 and £17,000 respectively. For the following year costs only fell to the Cabinet Office which were £63,650.
In 1997-98 and 1998-99 respectively, £1,896 and £1,336 was spent on maintenance and minor works on the accommodation in Hillsborough Castle used by Northern Ireland Office Ministers while on duty in Northern Ireland.
For details in respect of expenditure in 1999-2000 I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 5 June 2000, Official Report, columns 50-51W.
It is not possible to disaggregate expenditure on maintenance and repair in the manner requested.
Mr. Baker: To ask the Prime Minister what has been the total cost to public funds for each year since 1 May 1997 in respect of (a) entertainment and (b) staff costs for (i) Chequers and (ii) Chevening. [129227]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 5 July 2000]: Expenditure on entertainment was as follows:
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chequers | Chevening | |
| 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 | 11,279 | 19,800 |
| 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 | 10,462 | 5,658 |
| 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 | 7,867 | 13,024 |
Staff costs figures for Chequers by amounts charged for these periods were as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| 1 May 1997 to 31 March 1998 | 264,950 |
| 1 April 1998 to 31 March 1999 | 315,292 |
| 1 April 1999 to 31 March 2000 | 364,319 |
Figures relating to Established Staff at Chevening are unavailable since costs are borne by the Chevening Trust and fall outside the jurisdiction of and budgets of the FCO. Charges for ad hoc staff employment are included in the figures for entertainment.
This expenditure is comparable with that of the previous Administration.
Lord Levy
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister when Lord Levy will next be meeting the Israeli Prime Minister. [130460]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2000]: This is a matter for Lord Levy.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the overseas trips which have been planned for Lord Levy acting as his personal envoy. [130459]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2000]: There are no firm plans at present.
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Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister what the cost to public funds was of Lord Levy's last visit to Syria. [130458]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2000]: Lord Levy's last visit to Syria was, like some members of the Opposition, as a member of the official party to the condolence ceremony to mark the death of President Hafez al Asad. The costs of assistance provided were not separately itemised.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister whom Lord Levy briefed following his visit to Syria. [130457]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2000]: Following his visit to Syria in May, Lord Levy briefed me, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office in person. The visit was also reported by telegram by the Ambassador in Damascus, who attended all Lord Levy's meetings.
Mr. Maude: To ask the Prime Minister in which regions of the world Lord Levy acts as a Prime Ministerial envoy. [130469]
The Prime Minister [holding answer 13 July 2000]: The Middle East and North Africa.
Ministerial Code
Mr. Nicholls: To ask the Prime Minister who the final arbiter is on questions involving the Ministerial Code of Conduct when the Minister involved is the Prime Minister. [131363]
The Prime Minister: It is for individual Ministers--including the Prime Minister--to account to Parliament for their actions and decisions.
Press Officers
Mr. Lansley: To ask the Prime Minister how many press officers were employed in his Department in
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(a) May 1997, (b) January 1998, (c) January 1999 and (d) January 2000; and what the total expenditure on press officers by his Department was in each of the years concerned. [132765]
The Prime Minister: The number of Press Officers employed and expenditure incurred by the Press Office at No. 10 is as listed. The expenditure is the total pay bill for all the staff in the Press Office, which includes the Press Officers as well as the support staff.
The details are listed per financial year.
| Financial year | Number of press officers | Cost per financial year |
|---|---|---|
| 1 April 1997-31 March 1998 | Chief Press Secretary | (1)556,798 |
| 5 Press Officers | ||
| 2 Special Advisers | ||
| 1 April 1998-31 March 1999 | Chief Press Secretary | (1)584,746 |
| 5 Press Officers | ||
| 2 Special Advisers | ||
| 1 April 1999-31 March 2000 | Chief Press Secretary | (1)618,174 |
| 6 Press Officers | ||
| 2 Special Advisers |
(1) Actual pay
Ministerial Advisers
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Prime Minister if he will list the (a) paid and (b) unpaid Special Advisers to Ministers indicating when each adviser was appointed. [132794]
The Prime Minister: Listed are the paid and unpaid Special Advisers in post on 24 July 2000. All appointments require my prior approval. Information on the actual date of appointment of Special Advisers is not held centrally as Ministers are not required to inform me of the date individual Advisers start work.
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(1) In addition, the Secretary of State for Education and Employment has appointed Professor Michael Barber as Standards and Effectiveness Adviser.
(1) Leala Padmanabhan appointed as a temporary Special Adviser to provide cover for Sophie Linden who is on maternity leave.
(1) Part-time
(1) In addition, the Minister for the Cabinet Office has appointed Keith Hellawell as the UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator and Michael Trace as the Deputy UK Anti-Drugs Co-ordinator on Special Adviser terms.
(1) Unpaid
(1) In addition, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has appointed Chris Wales, Paul Gregg, Shriti Vadera and Maeve Sherlock as Members of the Council of Economic Advisers.
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