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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the official residences for which her Department is responsible; who occupies each one; what the annual cost is of running each property; what contribution the occupants of each make towards running costs; 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 was in 2003-04. [213560] Alun Michael: The Department is responsible for one official residence, an apartment at Admiralty House, London, which is occupied by the Secretary of State. Since Admiralty House is Government owned, running costs are paid by the Department to the Cabinet Office. Current annual running costs of £195,000 are paid in respect of rent and a service charge, which covers costs for utilities (including electricity and gas) security, facilities management and general maintenance. The Secretary of State does not contribute directly towards these costs but does pay a related personal `tax' charge. The telephone charges are included within the Department's general telephone expenditure. Since the Department was created in June 2001, we have not been advised of any capital or refurbishment expenditure. Any such expenditure is the responsibility of the Cabinet Office who would re-charge the Department through the service charge. The Department incurs no expenditure on flowers and plants, wine and entertaining or food. There are no domestic or maintenance staff employed by the Department.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

431 c1814-5W;431 c1810W; 213560

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Electricity Government departments Natural gas Property Staff Utilities Repairs and maintenance Telephones Flowers Official residences Official hospitality Operating costs

Link

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