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31 Mar 2004 : Column 1487W—continued
Unmarried Partners
Mr. Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether unmarried partners are eligible for Defence Housing Executive married quarters if they are in a recognised relationship; and if he will make a statement. [163627]
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Mr. Caplin [holding answer 30 March 2004]: The Tri-Service Accommodation Regulations govern the allocation of married quarters to serving personnel. They do not allow cohabitation with a partner who is not a legal spouse.
However, this policy is currently under review and when a conclusion is reached the House will be advised.
Works Projects
Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the radiological decontamination works at Aldershot, pursuant to project 5067. [163969]
Mr. Caplin: Work was undertaken between October 2001 and March 2002 to remove radiological contamination from the former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers' site in Aldershot following a Land Quality assessment and surveys undertaken by Defence Evaluation and Research Agency Radiological Protection Services. The work was limited to the removal of detectable radium above the regulatory limit.
When contamination was first identified, the local authority, local inhabitants and the media were made aware of the project, and they were kept informed of progress. The site was also fenced and warning signs erected. Tenders were only invited from contractors with an established reputation in radiological decontamination and the work followed current best practice including on the minimisation of waste transferred to licensed landfill sites and to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd., Drigg. I can confirm that the project was completed on 8 March 2002.
CABINET OFFICE
Office of the e-Envoy
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what total expenditure has been on the Office of the e-Envoy in (a) the last 12 months and (b) since it was established. [160023]
Mr. Alexander: The total expenditure for the Office of the e-Envoy over the last 12 months to the end of February 2004 was £17.2 million.
The costs for each financial year are detailed in the table:
| Costs (£000) | |
|---|---|
| 2000–01 | 15,003 |
| 2001–02 | 20,716 |
| 2002–03 | 15,649 |
Note:
Figures for the financial year 2003–04 are not yet available
The Office of the e-Envoy was established in September 1999. Expenditure was posted to the same user analysis codes as CITU (Cabinet-Office IT Unit) and therefore cannot be separately identified until April 2000.
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Regulatory Impact Unit
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what the total expenditure (a) in the past 12 months and (b) since its inception was on the Regulatory Impact Unit; and if he will make a statement. [160037]
Mr. Alexander: The total expenditure for the Regulatory Impact Unit over the last 12 months to the end of February 2004 was £3.1 million.
The costs for each financial year are detailed as follows:
| Costs (£000) | |
|---|---|
| 1997–98 | 1,598 |
| 1998–99 | 1,811 |
| 1999–2000 | 1,973 |
| 2000–01 | 2,324 |
| 2001–02 | 2,502 |
| 2002–03 | 2,981 |
Note:
Figures for Financial year 2003–04 are not yet available.
Strategy Unit
Mr. Heald: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office (1) what the total expenditure of the Strategy Unit was (a) in the past 12 months and (b) since it was established; [160027]
- (2) what the expenditure has been on each review that has been conducted by the Strategy Unit since its inception; and if he will make a statement. [160030]
Mr. Alexander: The total expenditure for the Strategy Unit over the 12 months to the end of February 2004 was £5.0 million.
The costs for each financial year are detailed as follows:
- June 2002 to March 2003: £6,126k
Figures for financial year 2003–04 are not yet available.
It is not possible to disaggregate the figures by individual review.
Mr. Flook: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many projects undertaken by the Strategy Unit since its creation have impacted directly on the South West; and what assessment he has made of their effect on that region. [164564]
Mr. Alexander: The Strategy Unit carries out a range of functions:
- long-term strategic reviews of major areas of policy;
- studies of cross-cutting policy issues;
- work with departments to promote strategic thinking and improve policy-making across Whitehall; and
- work to improve the quality and standards of Government social research.
A full list of SU projects is available on its website: www.strategy.gov.uk
No assessment of the regional impact of the unit's work has been carried out.
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HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION
Parliamentary Estate
Mr. Llwyd: To ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission what (a) renovation and (b) maintenance projects on the parliamentary estate were undertaken in each of the last five years; and what the associated costs were of each. [163952]
Sir Archy Kirkwood: It is not possible to make a useful distinction between renovation and maintenance, as many projects contain elements of both, and some involve new works as well. The projects undertaken on the Parliamentary Estate in each of the last five years are listed as follows:
- rationalisation of water services;
- repairs to river wall: Speaker's Steps;
- New Palace Yard perimeter wall restoration;
- lift machinery renewal;
- electrical equipment renewal;
- overhaul Central Lobby chandelier;
- oil painting conservation;
- asbestos removal from plant rooms;
- stone cleaning—Picture Corridor South;
- restoration of grained ceilings;
- restoration of Committee Room 10 and installation of air conditioning;
- Smoking Room conservation
- Crypt Chapel ceiling conservation;
- repairs to river wall;
- Royal Court stone restoration;
- stone cleaning—Picture Corridor North;
- various roof repairs;
- asbestos removal from plant rooms;
- oils, prints, watercolours and statues conservation;
- rationalisation of water services;
- various roof repairs;
- lift machinery renewal;
- stone cleaning—Picture Corridor East;
- underground car park: escalator machinery renewal;
- restoration of Committee Rooms 4, 5 and 6 and installation of air conditioning;
- Old Palace Yard restoration Phase I;
- restoration of Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3 and installation of air conditioning;
- major refurbishment of Norman Shaw South building;
- St. Stephen's Tower: refurbishment of offices;
- Commons Court: refurbishment of offices;
- Old Palace Yard restoration Phase II.
- various roof repairs;
- stone restoration: Commons Court and Commons Inner Court;
- lift machinery renewal;
- pinnacle repairs: Palace of Westminster;
- Palace boiler and chiller plant modernisation;
- Palace basement plant room modernisation and asbestos removal;
31 Mar 2004 : Column 1491W
- restoration of Speaker's Green;
- restoration of Committee Rooms 7, 8 and 9 and installation of air conditioning;
- Old Palace Yard restoration Phase III;
- major refurbishment of Norman Shaw South building;
- Plaid Cymru and SNP offices: modernisation.
- Palace boiler and chiller plant modernisation;
- roof and gutters repair: Westminster Hall;
- various roof repairs: Palace of Westminster;
- stone restoration: Commons Court and Commons Inner Courts;
- modernisation of basement plant rooms and asbestos removal;
- encaustic tile restoration: St. Stephens Hall;
- bronze window repairs;
- restoration of Committee Rooms 15 and 16 and installation of air conditioning;
- restoration of Speaker's Green.
The costs of individual projects are difficult to assign annually, as many extend over several financial years. Over the last five years, the average annual cost, in cash terms, to the House of Commons of new works, renovation and maintenance on the Parliamentary Estate, excluding Portcullis House, has been approximately £23 million.
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