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Palace of Westminster (Works)
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, columns 220-21, what were the (a) objectives and (b) costs of the work to restore (i) the two fresco paintings off Central Lobby, (ii) the fresco painting in the House of Lords Chamber and (iii) the 35 oil paintings. [2926]
Sir Raymond Powell: The work was to conserve, restore and maintain the value of works of art. The cost to the House was approximately £30,000. The total cost of some £50,000 was shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis.
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Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, columns 220-21, what were the (a) objectives and (b) costs of the work on the second phase of overhaul of the Carriage Gates. [2905]
Sir Raymond Powell: The work on the second phase of the overhaul of the Carriage Gates was necessary to maintain the gate mechanism for security and for stonework and metalwork restoration. The cost to the House was approximately £29,400. The total cost of some £49,000 was shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Work Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, columns 220-21, what are the expected final costs of the full parliamentary data and video network cabling at (a) Star Chamber Court block, (b) Norman Shaw North floors 1 and 2, (c) House of Lords west front ground and first floors and (d) 1 The Abbey Garden. [2900]
Sir Raymond Powell: The expected final cost of this year's PDVN cabling work is as follows: (a) Star Chamber Court block and (c) House of Lords west front approximately £1.6 million--shared with the House of Lords on a 60:40 basis, cost to the House £960,000, (b) Norman Shaw North floors 1 and 2 (£300,000), and (d) 1 The Abbey Garden is administered by the House of Lords, for which I have no responsibility.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, columns 220-21, what proportion of the total spending was in areas and
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facilities used by (a) hon. Members, (b) House of Commons staff, (c) visitors, (d) disabled visitors and (e) disabled hon. Members, civil servants and staff. [2948]
Sir Raymond Powell: Since Members, staff and visitors share many areas of the parliamentary estate, it is not possible separately to identify the costs. During the last three years, considerable progress has been made on improving access to the parliamentary estate for disabled people. Depending upon the nature of an individual's disability, most of the spending in the summer of 1996 has been on facilities potentially available to people with disabilities.
Mr. Flynn: To ask the Chairman of the Accommodation and Works Committee, pursuant to his answer of 31 October, Official Report, columns 220-22, what were the (i) objectives and (ii) total individual costs of the (a) reconstruction of the Members' Cafeteria, (b) reconstruction of the Strangers' Cafeteria, (c) repair work to the roof of the Lords Chamber, (d) repair work to the roof of the Royal Gallery, (e) full parliamentary data and video network cabling, (f) connection of all hon. Members' offices to colour televisions with clean feed from the Chamber, (g) new servery in the Members' Tea Room, (h) furniture restoration for the Members' Tea room, (i) renovation of the Speaker's outer office, (j) redecoration of the Churchill Room, (k) the refurbishment of the lavatories in (1) Upper Committee Corridor South, (2) opposite Committee Room 7 and (3) Commons Court block, second floor, and (l) refurbishment of the cash machines corridor; and if he will make a statement. [2947]
Sir Raymond Powell: The objectives forecast in-year costs relating to work in the House of Commons are as follows:
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| Project | Objective | In-year cost to the House £ | In-year total cost(1)£ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reconstruction of: (a) Members' Cafeteria (b) Strangers' Cafeteria | Following a resolution of the House, to meet statutory requirements with regard to health and safety, hygiene, fire, ventilation and other building standards | 3 million | 3 million |
| Repair work to (c) the roof of the Lords' Chamber (d) the Royal Gallery | To cure leaks | 0.66 million | 1.1 million |
| (e) PDVN cabling(2) | To implement the resolution of the House to install the PDVN | Palace: 0.96 million Norman Shaw North: 0.30 million | 1.6 million 0.3 million |
| (f) Connection of all hon. Members' offices to colour televisions with clean feed from the Chamber | To implement the resolution of the House | 0.145 million | 0.145 million |
| (g) New servery in the Members' Tea Room | To implement the resolution of the House to improve health, safety and hygiene standards | 85,000 | 85,000 |
| (h) Furniture restoration for the Members' Tea Room | To maintain appropriate standards | 31,000 | 31,000 |
| (i) Renovation of the Speakers outer office | To maintain appropriate standards | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| (j) Redecoration of the Churchill Room | To maintain appropriate standards | 24,000 | 24,000 |
| (k) The refurbishment of the lavatories in: | |||
| (1) Upper Committee Corridor South | To provide adequate capacity as required by Members | 16,800 | 28,000 |
| (2) Opposite Committee Room 7 | To conclude last years work on adaptions to provide a lavatory for the disabled | 15,000 | 25,000 |
| (3) Commons Court Block--second floor | To maintain appropriate standards | 9,000 | 15,000 |
| (l) Refurbishment of the cash machines corridor; | To complete the wheelchair access route, improve facilities as requested by Members and maintain appropriate standards | 72,000 | 120,000 |
(1) The cost of shared projects listed is split between House of Commons and House of Lords in a ratio of 60:40
(2) PDVN cabling was also installed in areas administered by the House of Lords for which I have no responsibility
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OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION
Kenya
Mr. Soley: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on torture and human rights abuses in Kenya; and what is the Government's policy on this matter. [1632]
Dr. Liam Fox: We receive reports from a variety of sources about human rights, including torture, in Kenya. This issue forms part of our ongoing dialogue with the Kenyan authorities. We take every suitable opportunity to remind the Government of Kenya of their obligations and of our concerns on this subject.
Cameroon
Mr. Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations the British Government are making to the Government of Cameroon about the necessity of holding free and fair elections. [2657]
Dr. Liam Fox: Our high commissioner in Yaounde has stressed repeatedly to the Cameroonian Government the importance we attach to free and fair elections in Cameroon. My noble friend Baroness Challker outlined out concerns to the Cameroonian Deputy Foreign Minister during his visit to the United Kingdom in August and expressed our willingness to help Cameroon establish an independent electoral commission.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the process of registering voters in Cameroon. [2656]
Dr. Fox: Registration of voters in Cameroon takes place each year from 1 January to 30 April. This year the period was extended by three months to 31 July. The Ministry for Territorial Administration estimates that 60 to 80 per cent. of those registered for the municipal elections in January have now re-registered which represents between 30 and 40 per cent. of those eligible to vote.
Mr. Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the possibility of free and fair elections being held in Cameroon in 1997. [2655]
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Dr. Fox: Cameroon's electoral code provides a framework for free and fair elections. We have made clear to the Cameroonian Government the importance we attach to the establishment of an independent electoral commission and offered to help, if necessary. In conjunction with a number of other donors, we are launching a training programme for 2,000 Cameroonian election observers in preparation for the next year's legislative and presidential elections.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Health and Safety
Mr. Byers: To ask the Attorney-General on what dates legal advice was given as to the effect of the term "working environment, as regards the health and safety of workers" contained in article 118a of the European Community treaty. [2979]
The Attorney-General: By convention, the fact of whether the Law Officers have advised on a given issue is not disclosed, nor is the substance of any advice which may have been given.
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