§ Sir P. Bryanasked the Lord President of the Council if he will give figures to show the increase in the number of parliamentary Questions asked over the last 25 years; and the estimated average cost per Question incurred in providing answers.
§ Mr. FootIn the parliamentary Sessions 1950–51 and 1975–76 15,720 and 42,320 Questions respectively were answered in theOfficial Report.
As my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Civil Service Department told my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on Thursday 7th July, the estimated average cost of answering oral and written parliamentary Questions is £30 and £18 respectively. [Vol. 934, c. 607.]