§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the growing practice of Ministers in general, and the Home Office and Treasury Ministers in particular, of declining to give information which is easily and readily available, where no question of State security is involved, on such issues as costs of Departments' subsistence allowances claimed and paid to Ministers and their civil servants, and using a device that the information can only be supplied at disproportionate costs when such information can prove damaging to the Departments, Ministers and the Government; and whether, in view of his circular on open government, he will see that such information is supplied to hon. Members.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I told my hon. Friend on 26th October, it is the Government's practice to supply as much information as can be made available in response to Questions and inquiries from hon. Members. Ministers always carefully consider whether the provision of information would involve disproportionate cost, and each case is judged on its merits.