Question
To ask the hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what the cost to the public purse was of (a) securing, (b) heating, and (c) lighting empty offices on the Parliamentary Estate while (a) staff and (b) hon. Members were instructed to work from home due to the covid-19 outbreak.
At all times the estate has been kept safe and secure and able to support Parliamentary business as required.
It is not possible to provide a specific breakdown of costs relating to empty offices during this period. The following comparison against a similar period last year has been produced. Reductions in usage may not be solely related to Covid-19.
|
| March – May 2019 |
| March – May 2020 |
| Reduction (units) |
| Approx. Reduction (£) |
Natural Gas kWh |
| 8,560,187 |
| 6,670,501 |
| 1,889,686 |
| £29,725 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Electricity kWh |
| 7,196,453 |
| 6,328,062 |
| 868,392 |
| £95,459 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Water m3 |
| 48,313 |
| 14,294 |
| 34,019 |
| £63,490 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| £188,674 |