(2) much has been spent on (a) maintaining, (b) decorating and (c) otherwise improving his Office’s buildings in the last five years; how much has been spent on wallpaper since 2001; and what plans there are for further spending on such decoration.
The Downing street estate is undergoing essential maintenance work required to maintain it to the standards appropriate to its Grade 1/2 listed status required by English Heritage.
The total resource expenditure for maintaining the entire Downing street estate for the financial year 2007-08 was £1.288 million. This includes the exceptional resource cost of £810,664, which has already been published, for essential work to the exterior of the Downing street estate again in consultation with English Heritage. Resource spend includes maintenance of fixed assets, the fabric of the building, floors, walls and ceilings and the upkeep and repair of heritage assets.
Information on capital expenditure on improving Cabinet Office buildings, including the Downing street estate for 2007-08 is included in the annual Cabinet Office Resource Accounts. Copies are available in the Library of the House. Capital works included railings alterations, ICT cabling installation and alteration, Front Hall renovation, Cabinet Room redecoration, infrastructure work such as new risers for ICT cabling, repair of collapsed drain, installation of new Building Management System and energy monitoring equipment, access improvements works, such as corridor ramping and dropped kerbs in Downing street and security works.
As part of the resource spend, the cost of routine maintenance on the flat above No. 11 Downing street for the most recent financial years is set out as follows:
£ 2005-06 35,293 2006-07 14,832 2007-08 28,150
Expenditure on other official residences is a matter for the relevant Department. Information for previous years is a matter of public record and can be found in the official report.