asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of improvement and maintenance work carried out to Hillsborough House in the past six months; and what is the projected expenditure for the next six months.

The cost of maintaining Hillsborough House and grounds for the first six months of the current financial year was £65,400, with an estimated further expenditure for the following six months of £75,000.Expenditure on improvements, mainly to security, during the same period amounted to £19,300, with a further £34,200 forecast.