§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of running the Board of the Royal Ordnance Factories, including all main constituent costs of any sort whatsoever, namely, expenditure on its own programmes, wages, rent, heating and lighting, maintenance &c., in the latest 12 months for which figures are available; and what are the projected costs for 1978–79.
§ Dr. GilbertThe salaries and travelling expenses of those members of the Board of the Royal Ordnance Factories appointed from outside the Government service totalled approximately £3,200 in 1977–78. A similar level of expenditure is forecast for 1978–79. I am the chairman of the board and the deputy chairman and other members are either serving civil servants or army officers, who carry out their function as part of their normal departmental duties, as do those concerned with board administration. The related cost is not separately identifiable.