§ Q4. Mr. Englishasked the Prime Minister what are to be the cost limitations imposed upon the answering of Questions by Ministers; and by whom such limitations can be varied in individual cases.
§ The Prime MinisterThere has been no change in the existing practice under which Ministers consider in individual cases whether the cost of preparing the Answer would be disproportionate.
§ Mr. EnglishWould the right hon. Gentleman state what cost limits are normally used for this purpose? As it is often said in the House that the cost of answering a particular Question would be excessive, is the right hon. Gentleman saying that any Minister can decide to answer any Question at any cost?
§ The Prime MinisterObviously Ministers have to use their discretion and judgment in this matter. I am told that the approximate cost today of answering a Written Question is £10—Written—and an Oral Question £14. Normally the run of Questions goes up to £50. Quite the most expensive Answer is to provide an Answer to a Question asking about the cost of Questions.
§ Mr. EnglishOn a point of order. I know that you deprecate the raising of points or order during Question time, Mr. Speaker, so I wish to raise one now.
In the course of answering my Question No. 4 the Prime Minister stated that the average cost of answering a Question was £10. That was given in evidence to the Committee on Procedure 10 years ago. Since it is a matter of concern to all back benchers—and I put this to you, Mr. Speaker, as the defender of back benchers—may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to explain whether that is the cost for a simple answer or whether the present Administration are not spending as much time on answering Questions as did the previous Administration?
§ Mr. SpeakerThat was a supplementary question—the second by the hon. Member—disguised as a point of order.
§ The Prime MinisterI should like to clarify one point. The cost of £10 which I gave referred to a Written Answer. When they gave a figure of £10 it was for an Oral Answer. The cost of an Oral Answer is always greater than that of a Written Answer.