§ Mr. Freudasked the Lord President of the Council if he will publish in theOfficial Reportthe criteria used for deciding that a parliamentary Question will not be answered because of disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Foot:It is difficult to prescribe general criteria by which to determine whether a Minister should decline to answer a parliamentary Question on grounds of disproportionate cost. Inevitably, the assessment depends upon the circumstances of each case. The question whether the cost of providing information which is not readily available appears to 920W outweigh its value is bound to be a matter of judgment for the Minister concerned.