£5,000 bill for empty grace-and-favour flats

EMPTY grace-and-favour flats in Admiralty House have cost the taxpayer almost £5,000 in council tax since they were vacated, it emerged today. C

Cabinet Office minister Kevin Brennan said two empty flats at the former residence of then deputy prime minister John Prescott had racked up council tax bills of £4,853.

Foreign Office minister Lord Malloch-Brown lives in Mr Prescott's old flat but those vacated by Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon in June 2006 and former Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer in June 2007 are still empty.

In his Commons reply to the shadow communities secretary, Mr Brennan added that utility costs for each flat were not held separately from the property.

Admiralty House, overlooking St James's Park, was built in the 18th century and contains state rooms and residential accommodation.