§ Mr. John MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost of the European Parliament in 1995; and if he will list the allowances payable to members. [37153]
§ Mr. David DavisThe budget of the European Parliament for 1995 is 843 million ecu or £703.4 million. This includes operational costs for 723 million ecu or £603.4 million, and special capital costs of 120 million ecu or £100.1 million for the new offices of the European Parliament in Brussels.
The following allowances are available to Members in 1995:
Telephone and fax—unlimited use from European Parliament offices.Travel—within the union, 0.76 ecu or £0.634 for every km up to 400 km, and 0.38 ecu or £0.317 for every km thereafter. Outside the Union, the cost of the return air fare by the most direct route.253WSubsistence on official travel—within the Union 213 ecu or £177.75 per day. Half this amount, plus hotel costs, outside the Union.General office expenses—2,926 ecu or £2,441.75 per month.Secretarial assistance—8,000 ecu or £6,676 per month.