§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to his answer of 14 June,Official Report, column 421, if he will make a statement on how his Department calculates whether collating information in relation to answering parliamentary questions constitutes disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. HeseltineIf the preparation of an answer is likely to cost more than the cost threshold, Ministers will consider whether to refuse to answer it on the ground of disproportionate cost. The current threshold of £450, calculated by the Treasury, was announced to the House by my right hon. Friend the Lord President of the Council, on 25 October 1993,Official Report, column 425.
In respect of my earlier reply, the information requested is not readily available and could be obtained only with a great deal of staff effort.