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Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Wednesday 19th January 2022

Asked by: Florence Eshalomi (Labour (Co-op) - Vauxhall)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any repairs were carried out at Number 10 Downing Street estate between 17 and 24 April 2021.

Answered by Michael Ellis

The Downing Street complex is a working building and also contains two Ministerial residences. As has always been the case, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically. Substantive refurbishment works are outlined in the Cabinet Office's annual report and accounts.


Written Question
10 Downing Street
Friday 23rd April 2021

Asked by: Baroness Jenkin of Kennington (Conservative - Life peer)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what was the outturn spending from the public purse on the Prime Ministerial residence in Downing Street in each financial year since 1997 for which records are held.

Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two Ministerial residences. As has always been the case, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically. The Government is legally required to maintain the Downing Street buildings to the high standards appropriate to its Grade 1 and 2 listed status in consultation with Historic England. The listed status, as well as security and other relevant factors, significantly add to the cost of maintenance and repairs, compared to normal properties.

Across successive governments, Prime Ministers have received an annual allowance of up to £30,000 a year from the public purse to contribute towards the costs associated with maintaining and furnishing of the residency within the Downing Street estate.

Such works contribute to assets owned and held by the nation for use by Ministers, including for example for hosting official guests.

Figures for outturn spending from that allowance on the No 11 flat (the residence of the Prime Minister since 1997) are as follows.

To assist public scrutiny, they are presented in cash terms at the time of the payments, and in real terms (equivalent costs today).

Year

Cash outturn

Real terms*

1997-98

£16,471

£25,299

1998-99

£48,336

£73,040

1999-00

£32,189

£48,425

2000-01

£37,501

£55,406

2001-02

£32,945

£47,973

2002-03

£32,707

£46,587

2003-04

£21,094

£29,414

2004-05

£14,012

£18,996

2005-06

£35,293

£46,617

2006-07

£14,832

£19,050

2007-08

£28,150

£35,164

2008-09

£27,083

£32,939

2009-10

£29,389

£35,181

2010-11

£30,000

£35,267

2011-12

£13,335

£15,442

2012-13

£0

£0

2013-14

£20,490

£22,840

2014-15

£0

£0

2015-16

£29,106

£31,744

2016-17

£19,400

£20,647

2017-18

£0

£0

2018-19

£6,134

£6,270

2019-20

£0

£0


*Using HMT figures for GDP deflator for 2019-20.

Note: The annual allowance may be combined or spread to support works across financial years.

Figures exclude essential works to make good the premises prior to occupation.

No works took place in 2019-20 partly due to the general election and the covid pandemic.

Audited figures of spending from the allowance for the 2020-21 financial year are not yet available; works have taken place by long-standing Downing Street contractors on painting, sanding and floorboards. Any costs of wider refurbishment in this year have been met by the Prime Minister personally.

The Government has been considering the merits of whether works on parts or all of the Downing Street estate could be funded by a trust; this could mirror long-standing arrangements in place for Chequers (a private trust) or for Dorneywood (a charitable trust), reducing the need for subsidy from the public purse. Such matters are legally complex and policy development is ongoing. The Government engaged with the Leader of the Opposition’s Office on the proposals in July.

Matters concerning works on the Downing Street estate, including the residences, will be covered in the Cabinet Office’s forthcoming annual report and audited accounts.


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Thursday 25th March 2021

Asked by: Rachel Reeves (Labour - Leeds West)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the total cost to the public purse of (a) refurbishments and (b) renovations to No.10 Downing Street since July 2019 has been notified to the Cabinet Secretary.

Answered by Chloe Smith

The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two Ministerial residences. As has been the case under successive administrations, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically.

Works to the Downing Street estate are overseen by the Cabinet Office. It is not the practice of successive administrations to comment on which officials have been consulted or advised on matters.


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Thursday 25th March 2021

Asked by: John Spellar (Labour - Warley)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Cabinet Secretary was consulted on the financing of the recent refurbishment of No. 10 Downing St.

Answered by Chloe Smith

The Downing Street complex is a working building, as well as containing two Ministerial residences. As has been the case under successive administrations, refurbishments and maintenance are made periodically.

Works to the Downing Street estate are overseen by the Cabinet Office. It is not the practice of successive administrations to comment on which officials have been consulted or advised on matters.


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Monday 21st October 2019

Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent from the public purse on repairs and maintenance at No. 10 Downing Street in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Simon Hart - Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip)

I refer the Hon member to the answers given to him to PQs 133932, 133933, 133934, 133476, 133478 on 26 and 29 March 2018.


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Thursday 29th March 2018

Asked by: Tommy Sheppard (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh East)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much has been spent from the public purse on repairs and maintenance at No. 10 Downing Street in each of the last ten years.

Answered by Oliver Dowden - Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster

Number 10 Downing Street is a part of the Cabinet Office estate which is managed as a whole. Separating these costs would not be possible without incurring disproportionate cost.


Written Question
10 Downing Street: Repairs and Maintenance
Thursday 21st July 2016

Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, whether she plans to refurbish, extend or renovate 10 Downing Street.

Answered by Theresa May

10 Downing Street is a Grade 1 and Grade 2 listed building and is maintained to the appropriate standard.