Departmental Property

David T.C. Davies
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by his Department on renovation and refurbishment of its properties in each of the last five years.

Mr. Sutcliffe
In each of the last five years the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has spent the following on the renovation and refurbishment of its properties.

2006-07—£6.7 million (aggregate figure for work finalised in this year subject to account negotiation). These costs were in pursuance of the recommendations of the “Lyons Report” and allowed the Department, after a refurbishment and modernisation project, to rationalise the size of its estate. This enabled the Department to move most staff from existing outlying properties into the single building which had been refurbished. The Department has closed two outlying properties plus additional floors in its two other remaining properties. The properties and areas that are now relinquished have either been returned to their landlords, or are pending disposal.