Honours and Dignities

HC Deb 15 January 2003 vol 397 cc660-1W

Norman Lamb

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will break down by main spending heads(a) salaries and (b) ceremonial expenses paid for by his Department under its provision for honours and dignities, as set out on page 55 of the HM Treasury Departmental Report 2002. [89263]

Ruth Kelly

[holding answer 7 January 2003]: Honours and dignities are normally awarded by HM the Queen on the advice of the Ceremonial Secretariat of the Cabinet Office. For historical reasons spending is included in the Treasury's Estimate. Estimated spending by the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood (CCOK) for the financial year 2002–03 breaks down as follows:

£
Admin expenses of CCOK, including salaries	469,100
Cost of Insignia issued	459,700
George Cross annuities	18,200
Other Ceremonial costs	69,000
Total	11,016,000
1Net of £7,000 appropriations-in-aid.