§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, as Members of Parliament have to meet expenses of living away from home with no allowances and these expenses are continually rising, he will take steps to grant to Members of Parliament the same subsistence allowance as is now paid to Ministers, civil servants and chairmen of nationalised boards;
(2) whether he is aware that in October, 1964 the nightly subsistence allowance paid to Ministers of the Crown and senior civil servants was 63s. per night and that since April, 1970 a rate of 110s. generally and 120s. in London has been operating; and whether he will make the latter rates applicable to Members of Parliament who have to stay away from home on Parliamentary duties.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinMinisters of the Crown are eligible for subsistence only when they are required to undertake official Ministerial duties away from their normal place of work. The rates and conditions of payment are those applying to senior civil servants. Members of Parliament are eligible for subsistence when living away from home on the business of the House (e.g. as members of a Select Committee) in a place away from London and their constituency. It would not be consistent with the basis on which Members' remuneration is fixed to pay them342W the same rates as, or to apply the subsistence arrangements in force for, the chairmen of the nationalised boards.