Written Ministerial Question (Correction)

Monday 16th December 2013 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)]

I regret to inform the House that a written answer I gave on 28 October 2013, Official Report, column 321W, to the hon. Member for Nottingham East (Chris Leslie) needs amendment. The hon. Gentleman asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what costs were incurred by his Department’s estate in respect of (a) gas and (b) electricity supply in the 2012-13 financial year.

The answer said that the costs incurred by the Scotland Office in the 2012-13 financial year, in respect of (a) gas was £6,876.40 and (b) electricity was £110,804.98, which includes £47,744.96 for Whitehall Standby Distribution System standing charges.

The figure for gas charges was correct. However, the figure given for electricity costs also included the charges for the Whitehall Heating System and the Standby Distribution System. The Whitehall Heating System supplies hot waters to Departments for central heating. The Standby Distribution System would supply electricity to Departments in the event of a power failure.

The correct answer to the hon. Member’s question is:

The costs incurred by the Scotland Office in the 2012-13 financial year, in respect of (a) gas was £6,876.40, and (b) electricity was £28,205.52. The charges for the Whitehall Heating System and the Standby Distribution System amounted to £82,599.46.

The overall costs of energy supplies provided in the original answer are not changed by this amendment.