§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria he uses in assessing the value of information given in answer to a Question from an hon. Member and the cost of obtaining the information by his Department when refusing to provide information on the grounds of disproportionate costs involved.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI am normally prepared to provide information in response to all Questions posed by hon. Members but where it would appear that the cost of collecting the necessary material would be considerable I think that it is right for me to draw this to the 417W attention of the hon. Member concerned. It is difficult to prescribe general criteria for deciding whether disproportionate cost is involved in preparing the answer to a Question. The assessment must depend upon the circumstances of each case. Security considerations apart, it would be appropriate to consider whether a matter of major public importance is raised, and whether the withholding of a reply would unjustifiably inhibit the work of the House, or its hon. Members. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and cares to write to me I shall, of course, look into it.