Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Anthony Browne - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
No.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
No refurbishments have been undertaken to Ministerial Offices in the period 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the amount of interest that has been accrued on frozen Russian assets seized by the UK Government.
Answered by Bim Afolami - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
UK Sanctions legislation does not provide powers to seize frozen assets. Assets owned or controlled by a designated person are frozen immediately by the person in possession or control of them. An asset freeze does not involve a change in ownership of the frozen funds or economic resources, nor are they transferred to HM Treasury, therefore no interest has been accrued by the UK Government on frozen Russian assets.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I can confirm that for calendar years 2022 / 2023, to date, there has been no refurbishment and nil investment (£0) in the ministerial offices located in the DWP Corporate Sites London, Caxton House and Leeds, Quarry House.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many ministerial red boxes belonging to her Department have been reported (a) lost and (b) stolen in each of the last three years.
Answered by Andrew Stephenson - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
No ministerial red boxes have been reported either lost or stolen in the Department within the last three years. If this were to occur, the Departmental security unit records and investigates each reported loss from the Department. Additionally, if appropriate, the police are invited to undertake further inquiries.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in her Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Julia Lopez - Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)
No refurbishments were made to ministerial offices in 2023. A refurbishment was carried out in 2022 following an office move.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Gareth Davies - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)
There have been no full refurbishments to ministerial offices during the last two years.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Simon Hoare - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
No significant refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in London or Wolverhampton during the last two years, but in line with the practice of successive administrations details of departmental expenditure are set out regularly.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
No refurbishments were made in Ministerial Offices in the Home Office in the last 2 years.
Asked by: Sarah Olney (Liberal Democrat - Richmond Park)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any refurbishments have been made to ministerial offices in his Department in each of the last two years.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
In September 2023, a Project was completed to create a Ministerial Meeting Room in the Cabinet Office’s 2nd Headquarters within Glasgow: 1 Atlantic Square. The room enables the conduct of Ministerial business in Glasgow, including hosting meetings.
Within London, 70 Whitehall
Two of the Ministerial offices were redecorated in April 2023 due to water damage.
A Ministerial Waiting Room was redecorated with furniture alterations in November 2023.
Further decoration of a Ministerial corridor is planned in March 2024, also due to water damage.
Each of these refurbishments strives to strike a balance between value for the taxpayer and ensuring that staff are able to do their job effectively.