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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the official residences for which his Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the current occupants make towards the running costs of each; what the total capital and refurbishment expenditure has been on those properties in each of the past five years; how much money was spent in each property on (a) flowers and plants, (b) wine and entertaining, (c) food, (d) telephone bills and (e) electricity and gas in 2003-04; how many (i) domestic and (ii) maintenance staff are employed at each property, broken down by post; and what the total cost of staff employment at each was in 2003-04. [213605] Mr. Pearson: Hillsborough Castle is the official residence of the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The facilities at the castle are also used to provide official hospitality, overnight accommodation and to carry out other official business. The range of activities can include political meetings, hospitality for visiting dignitaries, the Secretary of State's garden party, and citizenship ceremonies. In addition to its use by the Northern Ireland Office and other Government Departments, charities and local community groups can request to use the facilities, generally for fund raising purposes, and the castle and grounds are open at certain times of the year for guided tours. The total cost of running Hillsborough Castle in the 2003-04 financial year was £1,285,224.08. This includes the maintenance of the listed building and grounds; the security of the castle and its grounds and that of Ministers, officials and visitors while present at the castle. It also includes the cost hosting of the events listed above, as well as catering, hospitality and administration. The Secretary of State is on duty while at Hillsborough Castle and therefore his costs count as official expense. Records of expenditure on refurbishment are an integral part of the records that cover many other items of building maintenance and repair. It would be possible to identify only those items that relate specifically to refurbishment only at disproportionate cost. During the 2003-04 year £16,769.87 was spent on flowers and plants. This included plants and flowers for the 100 acre listed estate surrounding the castle and flowers for functions. A total £171,107.56 was spent on all catering and hospitality related items (the costs of food wine and entertaining not being separately available). £19,254.33 was spent on telephone system including calls, installations and maintenance. £64,360.56 was spent on power, including electricity, gas, oil and other forms of fuel. The total cost for all staff in the 2003-04 year was £660,715.61. There are currently the equivalent of 5.5 full-time domestic staff employed at Hillsborough Castle but no maintenance staff.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

213605; 431 c571-2W;431 c567-8W

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Electricity Government departments Natural gas Property Staff Utilities Repairs and maintenance Telephones Flowers Official residences Northern Ireland Office Official hospitality Operating costs

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk