HC Deb 26 February 1968 vol 759 cc250-1W
Mr. Marten

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain how the cost of answering oral Parliamentary Questions is broken down.

Mr. Harold Lever

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the average cost of £10 10s. 11d. for mid-1965 referred to in my Answer of 14th February to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon). This average figure was arrived at by costing and totalling for each Question answered in the relevant period:

  1. (a) the salary element for Ministers and civil servants concerned in preparing Answers, by reference to the time spent by each
  2. (b) appropriate additions for employers National Insurance contribution and superannuation liability
  3. (c) an element representing stationery and Post Office charges
  4. (d) the quantity of typing involved, by reference to cost per line
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  5. (e) an element, related to the time spent on the Answer, for certain overheads (e.g. messengers).

Nothing was included for costs in the House of Commons, or for costs in bodies outside central government whom it is sometimes necessary to consult.

A division of the £10 10s. 11d. between the elements (a) to (e) above is not available since totalling for the 879 oral Questions brought into the average was by the cost of each Question, and not by the cost of each of these elements; (a) was however much the largest element.—[Vol. 758, cc. 383–4.]]