HC Deb 28 July 1980 vol 989 c481W
Mr. English

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will give for his Department, and so far as possible for each of its associated public bodies, the cost of foreign travel, including accommodation and subsistence and entertainment by Ministers and civil servants, the cost of shorthand typists and the cost of non-employee advisers, on a similar basis to the categories of Select Committee expenditure included in the Estimates of the House of Commons, Class XIII-A and itemised in the reply of the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bottomley) to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), Official Report, 9 July, column 212.

Mr. St. John-Stevas

It is not possible to make a separation, in the form requested, for my offices in the Privy Council Office. The estimated salaries and wages for relevant staff amount to £18,550. A sum of £3,000 is estimated to cover all the other items.

As regards my responsibility for the arts, the cost of foreign travel will be just under £4,000 and for entertainment, £2,500 in the current year. The items for official shorthand writers and for specialist assistance do not arise in my Departments. I regret that for the museums, galleries and other arts bodies for which I am responsible the information required is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense.