§ 68. Wing-Commander JAMESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if, in the interest of economy and for the guidance of new Members, he will state the approximate average cost, in the last financial year, of oral questions asked?
§ Major ELLIOTI am afraid that it is not possible to estimate at all closely the cost of supplying answers to Members' questions, but it is no doubt true that considerable expenditure of time and money is involved. Unofficial estimates were made some years ago giving the cost at as much as 21 per question, but the circumstances of each question differ so widely that it would not be possible to give any accurate determination.
Captain CROOKSHANKCan my hon. and gallant Friend give any estimate of the cost of answering this particular question?