HL Deb 13 July 1999 vol 604 cc18-9WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked the Chairman of Committees:

Whether he will publish detailed income and expenditure accounts in relation to the performance, by the Law Lords, of the judicial functions of the House of Lords, covering all categories of expenditure other than the salaries of the Law Lords themselves. [HL3356]

The Chairman of Committees (Lord Boston of Faversham)

The House of Lords Judicial Office administers the judicial proceedings of" the House and provides secretarial and administrative services to the Lords of Appeal. The Office has its own budget and its income and expenditure for the year ending 31 March 1999 was as follows:

Income Judicial Fees £376.614
Taxations1 £110,481
Opinions2 £7,340
Total £494,435
Expenditure Staff Salaries and Wages £409,535
Outside Assistance3 £35,696
Publications £84,634
Travel4 £33,208
Office Supplies £21,445
Computers £15,530
Training (of staff) £9,146
Printing £3,012
Electronic Publishing £2,540
Official Entertainment £100
Courier Service £65
Total (gross) £614,911
Less: VAT refunds on contracted out services (£7,174)
Total (net) £607,737
1 A fee is received each time the Clerk of the Parliaments certifies the amount of a bill of costs when the parties cannot agree the amount.
2 Copies of the Law Lords' Opinions are provided free to the parties and to those in the Chamber when judgment is given. Otherwise a charge of £5 is levied. Opinions are published free on the Internet.
3 Largely attributable to the transcription and amplification of the Pinochet hearings.
4 The senior and second senior Lords of Appeal in Ordinary are entitled to use the Government Car Service; other Law Lords have limited entitlement.

Certain services, including postage, telecommunications, accommodation and heating, are provided centrally to the House and the costs of these services cannot be broken down between offices. Similarly, the costs incurred by the Parliamentary Works Directorate in respect of the fabric of the Palace of Westminster and its maintenance cannot be broken down by office. Other costs which cannot be identified include the use made by the Law Lords of the services of the House of Lords Library, and the services of Doorkeepers whose costs fall on the budget of Black Rod's Office.