§ Barbara FollettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the advisory cost limit of £550 for answering written parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement. [49257]
§ Ruth KellyThe advisory cost limit was last increased in 2000,Official Record, 15 May 2000, column 47W and is to be further increased to £600 from today.
580WThe purpose and application of the advisory cost limit remains unchanged. It is intended to act as a threshold for disproportionate cost parliamentary questions (PQs). Any written PQ where the marginal cost of preparing the answer is considered likely to exceed the threshold may be refused in whole or in part on the grounds of disproportionate cost. Alternatively the Minister may decide that the PQ is to be answered irrespective of cost. There is no advisory limit for oral PQs.
The advisory limit continues to be based on eight times the average marginal cost for written PQs, which is now £75, rounded down to the nearest £50 for convenience of application.
§ Barbara FollettTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his estimate is of the cost of answering(a) a written parliamentary question and (b) an oral parliamentary question. [49258]
§ Mr. BoatengAs at April 2001, the average cost of answering a written parliamentary question and an oral parliamentary question was £129 and £299 respectively.