PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(16 December 2024)

Question Asked

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, pursuant to the Answer of 4 December 2024 to Question 12891 on Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Ministers' Private Offices, how much the Government Property Agency spent on (a) new furniture and fittings and (b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and its predecessor Departments between 4 July 2022 and 4 July 2024; and on what items.

Asked by:
Emily Thornberry (Labour)

Answer

The Government Property Agency confirmed £24,315.62 excluding VAT was spent during the period 4th July 2022 to 4th July 2024 on new furniture and fittings plus other refurbishment (including moves) This is broken down as follows;

  • New Furniture and Fittings - £526.87

  • Other Refurbishment of Ministerial Offices including moves - £23,788.75

The full itemised list can be found below:

(a) new furniture and fittings

Covering the period from the creation of DSIT, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 February 2023 to 4 July 2024:

  • Date reference: 01/03/2023

    • What: Supply and installation of 4x key safe for private offices

    • How much: £302.89 ex VAT

    • Note: 1x key safe out of these 4 key safes was for the DSIT Permanent Secretary’s room (not ministerial) - however, we are not able to separate the cost of this from the overall costs for these fittings and works as a whole

  • Date reference: 02/02/2024

    • What: Supply and installation of key safe for private office

    • How much: £68.25 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 02/04/2024

    • What: Installation of portrait of HM The King at ministerial offices

    • How much: £51.91 ex VAT

    • Note: Portrait was supplied under the government's His Majesty The King's Portrait Scheme

  • Date reference: 16/04/2024

    • What: Installation of a heavy duty key safe for private office

    • How much: £103.82 ex VAT

(b) other refurbishment of Ministerial offices

Covering the period from the creation of DSIT, as announced by the Prime Minister on 7 February 2023 to 4 July 2024:

  • Date reference: 26/7/2023

    • What: Removal of whiteboards from wall, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged wall in ministerial office

    • How much: £472.98 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 7/8/2023

    • What: Churn of furniture (relocation, repositioning, removal of furniture to storeroom and installing furniture from storeroom) in private offices

    • How much: £311.47 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 16/11/2023

    • What: Churn of furniture (removal of furniture to storeroom and installing replacement furniture, reused from separate office) in ministerial office

    • How much: £415.30 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 15/12/2023

    • What: Major churn of furniture (internal movement and relocation of furniture to move ministerial teams to different rooms from previous rooms) of ministerial and private offices

    • How much: £13,661.92 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 19/1/2024

    • Removal of noticeboards and relocation of artwork, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged walls in 2x ministerial rooms

    • How much: £1,855.57 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 12/04/2024

    • Removal of whiteboards from 3x walls, repair and redecoration (repainting) of damaged walls in ministerial office

    • How much: £2,249.52 ex VAT

  • Date reference: 21/06/2024

    • What: Redecoration (repainting) of ministerial office

    • How much: £1,539.77 ex VAT

    • Note: Works completed prior to 4 July 2024

  • Date reference: 27/06/2024

    • What: Redecoration (repainting) of ministerial office, and installation of 7 pictures throughout ministerial office and private office

    • How much: £3,281.99

    • Note: Works completed prior to 4 July 2024

During this period DSIT was originally part of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which was dissolved on 7th February 2023 and split into DESNZ, DSIT and DBT. As a result of this, the former BEIS departments were moved out of 1 Victoria Street and into different buildings. The GPA has no record of any ministerial furniture or refurbishment expenditure at the former BEIS office (1 Victoria Street) during the requested period.


Answered by:
()

1 January 1970

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