Question

To ask the hon. Member for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross representing the House of Commons Commission, what the total expenditure on essential maintenance of the Palace of Westminster was in (a) 2009-10 and (b) 2010-11; what the Commons contribution was in each such year; and what estimate he has made of the likely increase in such costs in the next two financial years.

The total expenditure on essential maintenance of the Palace of Westminster and the Commons contribution was as follows:

2009–10 £8.9m, Commons share £5.5m
2010–11 £9.6m, Commons share £6.0m.

Essential maintenance has been interpreted to include planned and reactive day-to-day maintenance plus resource project works in excess of £25,000. It excludes staff costs and capital projects such as cast iron roofs repairs and the Medium Term Mechanical & Electrical project.

Whilst the Medium Term Financial Plan, which covers the next two financial years has not yet been agreed, essential maintenance is expected to be in line with previous years subject to inflation.