§ Dr. WrightTo ask the Prime Minister what have been the changes since 1979 of(a) the number of Ministers, (b) the cost of ministerial salaries and (c) the number of parliamentary private secretaries and other unpaid posts. [31514]
§ The Prime MinisterOn the basis of the definition of Ministers within schedule 1 of the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975, and including the Lord Chancellor,(a) the number of Ministers on 9 May 1979 was 107 and is currently 108; (b) in cash terms, on 9 May 1979 the cost of ministerial salaries was £1,356, 188 and the current cost is £3,598,084; (c) comparable information for this date is not available.
§ Mr. GapesTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his statement on 28 June 1995,Official Report, columns 893–909, on the outcome of the Cannes summit if all the reductions in Britain's contribution to the European development fund will be retained in the overseas development budget and used for bilateral aid to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries. [32158]
§ The Prime MinisterOur contribution to the eighth European development fund will be spent over some five years from the year 2000. Final years for the aid budget in these years will be determined during the annual public expenditure survey in the light of all relevant factors.