Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent on refurbishing (a) gymnasium and leisure facilities, (b) cafeteria and (c) interior decoration in (i) his Department and (ii) buildings owned by his Department in (A) 2013 and (B) 2014 to date.

Since 1998 the Department occupies the majority of its accommodation under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) known as the PRIME Contract. Under the terms of the contract, the Department sold all its property interests (and risk) to our Estates private sector partner, Telereal Trillium. The Department does not, therefore, own any property but occupies fully serviced accommodation in return for the payment of a unitary charge.

The unitary charge includes payment for all Life Cycle Works which covers the maintenance and upkeep of facilities including interior redecoration. It is not possible to disaggregate the costs for individual maintenance tasks.

We have not spent any monies (outside of the unitary charge) on refurbishing (a) gymnasium and leisure facilities, (b) cafeteria and (c) interior decoration in 2013 or 2014 to date.