§ 36. Mr. Fisherasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will indicate the approximate average cost of Parliamentary Questions to the Colonial Office which have to be referred to Colonial Territories for answer; and what is the average extra cost when they are placed on the Order Paper at short notice.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodIt would be impracticable to attempt to estimate the cost, in terms of staff time, of preparing an Answer to a Parliamentary Question. Referring Questions to overseas Governments costs 2s. 6d. if time permits the use of airmail. When such Questions are placed on the Order Paper at short notice, the extra cost to the Colonial Office and the overseas Government arising from telegraphic communication is from £10 to £100.
§ Mr. FisherDoes not the very large discrepancy involved indicate the desirability, wherever it is possible so to do, of hon. Members putting down their Questions to the Table Office in very good time so as to avoid using the very expensive telegraphic service?
§ Mr. MacleodOf course, if the House is seized with a passion for economy in this matter, hon. Members need not put down any Questions at all.
§ Mr. S. SilvermanWill the right hon. Gentleman add to the information he has given by telling us what was the cost of answering this Question and how much would have been saved if it had been put down for Written Answer instead of Oral Answer?
§ Mr. MacleodI imagine that the only cost involved in answering this Question 1426 is that of staff time in the Colonial Office in doing the exercise, and, as I said, that cannot be calculated.