§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, without incurring disproportionate costs, he will give, for the longest and most convenient period of time, the total number of persons in those quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations for which he is responsible which have claimed expenses and subsistence and travel allowances, and the totals of all such allowances claimed.
§ Mr. DeakinsThere is no official defination of the term quasi-autonomous nongovernmental organisation. Those bodies listed in the "Directory of Paid Public Appointments made by Ministers" which are the responsibility of my Department contain some 2,900 paid and 8,000 unpaid appointments. All those appointed are entitled to claim travelling and subsistence allowances, and, those who receive no fee, financial loss allowance where appropriate; but the total number who actually claim could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. Nor can the amount paid for expenses alone be readily isolated, but the total expenditure on salaries, fees, financial loss allowance and travelling and subsistence allowences for those serving on these bodies in the year ending 31 March 1978 was about £3.5 million.
§ Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will estimate, in the case of each quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisation for which he is responsible, the total expenditure for each year to 1977–78 since its establishment.
§ Mr. DeakinsI shall reply to the hon. Member as soon as possible.