Skip to main content

Army: Greater London

Volume 461: debated on Monday 11 June 2007

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on entertainment by the General Officer Commanding London District in the last 12 months, broken down by event. (137438)

The total expenditure on Official Entertainment by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) London District in the financial year 2006-07 was £2,922.26. The expenditure broken down by function, is listed in the table as follows.

Date

Cost (£)

Function

Event/Reason

2006

10 May

107.64

Dinner Party

Hosting of Military, Civilian and Palace Dignitaries

16 May

62.81

Formal Lunch

Household Division Trustees Meeting

17 May

31.42

Formal lunch

Irish Guards Regimental Trustees Meeting

17June

165.02

Formal lunch

Hosting of VIPs and Dignitaries Post Queen’s Birthday Parade

5 July

205.00

Formal Dinner

Hosting of VIP Metropolitan Police Officer

7 July

279.50

Formal Lunch

Hosting of CGS

5 September

191.95

Formal Lunch

Meeting with Eyre Estates Trustees regarding Kings Troop RHA

26 September

104.21

Formal Dinner Party

Unit cohesion—Commanders

3 October

110.97

Formal Dinner Party

Hosting of Commanders and Military Attaché

12 October

187.20

Formal Dinner Party

Enhancing community relations Army and District Stakeholders

1 November

178.18

Formal Dinner Party

Unit cohesion—Regimental Adjutants

28 November

99.32

Dinner Party

Hosting of GOC UKSC(G)

4 December

229.19

Formal Dinner Party

Hosting of Household Division, past present and future

2007

17 January

251.62

Formal Dinner Party

Hosting of Crown Equerry and Guests

13 February

123.40

Formal Dinner

Hosting of D News and guests

22 February

252.00

Formal Dinner

Unit cohesion—Foot Guards staff at ITC Catterick

1 March

95.55

Dinner Party

Hosting of ACDS (R and C) and London District Commanders

14 March

83.36

Formal Dinner

Hosting of Colonel Irish Guards

21 March

163.92

Formal Dinner Party

Hosting of Brigade Major and MP’s

All expenditure on official entertainment is subject to strict departmental rules and compliance with the principles of propriety set out in Government Accounting.

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 14 May 2007, Official Report, column 843W, on Army: Greater London, if he will give a breakdown of the (a) staff and (b) maintenance costs as referred to in the answer. (138934)

[holding answer 23 May 2007]: The current salary range for Ministry of Defence staff working in the household of the General Officer Commanding London District is shown in the following table.

Salary scales have been used for military staff and are indicative only. The original figure of £112,508.69 quoted for staff costs in FY 2005-06 included the costs of a driver. Drivers are appointment related rather than household related and should not have been included in household costs. They have therefore not been included in this answer. Actual salaries are being withheld on the grounds that they represent personal data under the meaning of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Salary details for those civilian staff that are employed by contractors are being withheld for reasons of commercial confidentiality.

Role

Rank

Salary range

House Sergeant

Sergeant

£27,000 to £34,000

Catering/Chef

Civilian

Cleaning Assistant

Civilians

The figure of £4,701.76 previously provided under the generic heading “maintenance” contained £1,000 for planned maintenance. Invoices for planned maintenance totalled £1,036.02 therefore the total spend on maintenance was actually £4737.78. This covered a range of costs, broken down as follows:

Description of maintenance

£

Eradication of mice—initial visit

112.50

Eradication of mice—follow up visit

84.38

Chimney repairs

1,060.00

Roof repairs

15.65

Shower repair

65.48

Renewal of waste pipes sinks and basins

115.66

Clean carpets to public areas

62.92

Renewal of shower hoses and sprays

59.94

Shower repair

17.68

Remove and later re-fix bath panels

15.26

Renewal of worktops, seal wall joint and make good wall tiling

202.11

Renewal of chromium plated metal support leg to worktop

20.79

Remake bath panel frame

32.74

Check system/rectify faults

316.00

Bath repair

44.57

Battery back ups x 4

219.00

Renew rubber plug and chain to basin

3.30

Make connection for waste from washing machine

106.54

Supply and fix washing machine valves

80.53

Redecorate utility room

200.00

Electrics tripping out main breaker

40.25

Basement electrics tripping out test all

120.75

Clear blockage in drain

16.88

Repair to wardrobe

32.44

Re-fix loose door fitting

3.34

Replace broken window

49.01

Repair power supply to alarm system (currently running on back up battery)

40.25

Re-plaster wall in kitchen

258.28

Re-tile wall in kitchen

253.20

Renew MK fuse board to basement, moulded units

306.02

Renew MK fuse board to basement

218.52

Tefal Steam Generator Iron

175.00

Kitchen Equipment

164.58

Stock Crockery/Crystal

224.21