§ Mr. MarlowTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will assess the United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament share of the European Parliament's costs relative to the costs of the House of Commons in the latest year for which figures are available. [16981]
§ Mr. David DavisThe total budgeted cost of the European Parliament in 1997 is 887.2 million ecu or £657.9 million.
The UK's contribution to the 1996 EU budget represented 13.6 per cent. of the total.
UK Members of the European Parliament make up 87 out of a total of 626 MEPs.
The estimated total cost of the House of Commons in 1996–97 is £236.4 million.
Exact comparisons are difficult since both functions and basis of costings are different.