§ 39. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service why under the heading of Personal Staff of Ministers is included the Opposition Chief Whip; and whether he will redesignate the headings of the Supply Estimates in future giving the estimates for the Opposition under their own sub-heading.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerThe Opposition Chief Whip is paid from the Consolidated Fund. The footnote to the Organisation Table annexed to the Civil Service Departments Estimate refers to staff of the Opposition Chief Whip, and not to the Chief Whip himself. I see no reason to change this practice.
§ Mr. LewisWill the hon. Gentleman agree that it cannot be right that we should have under the list of the Prime Minister's personal staff the Opposition Chief Whip? [Laughter.]Neither he nor anyone else would like that. Can the hon. Gentleman arrange in future Estimates to have the Opposition re-designated under their own list because we would rather not have them contaminated by the Government?
§ Mr. BakerLest the hon. Gentleman gets hold of the wrong end of the stick, perhaps I should explain that the salary of the Leader of the Opposition and of the Opposition Chief Whip are paid from the Consolidated Fund, so that it should not be thought that they are on the Government's payroll. However, the staff of the Opposition Chief Whip are on my Vote. It is one of the burdens I have to bear. While I am responsible for their salaries, I am not responsible for their conduct or efficiency.
§ Mr. John HallWould my hon. Friend agree that it would facilitate the business of the House and save a good deal of time if the Opposition Chief Whip was on the staff of the Prime Minister?
§ Mr. David SteelAs a matter of convenience, can the hon. Gentleman give us the total cost to the public of maintaining the official Opposition, in salaries and staff?
§ Mr. BakerIf the hon. Gentleman is asking me what is the total financial cost 617 rather than the cost in effectiveness, I would be pleased to answer the question if he put it down.