§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give for the latest and most conveniently stated 12-monthly period the cost to the Treasury of the £6.50p per day tax-free allowance paid to Members of the House of Lords; and to what extent he estimates this will rise when it is increased to £8.50p per day.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinAs I have repeatedly made clear to the hon. Member, there is no daily tax-free allowance paid to Members of the House of Lords. The cost of reimbursement of expenses incurred by peers, within a maximum of £6.50 for each day of attendance in the year ended 31st December, 1971, was £195,420. It is estimated that the expenditure for 1972 will show an increase of about £60,000.