§ The Earl of Northeskasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the average cost of answering a Question for Written Answer in the House of Lords; which three Lords have asked the most Questions for Written Answer in the current session to date; and how many such Questions each of them has asked.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)The most recent Government-wide average cost of answering parliamentary Questions for Written Answer was assessed at £105. This is the figure for April 1995, and relates to Questions in both Houses. Information is not separately available for the House of Lords.
From the beginning of the Session until 22nd March, the following Lords have received the following number of Written Answers:
Lord Kennet 117 Lord Lester of Herne Hill 71 Earl Russell 59 In each case the number of Questions asked is likely to be somewhat higher, since on occasion a single Answer is given to two or more Questions.