§ Mr. Beaumont-Darkasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is now the estimated average cost of answering an oral and a written parliamentary question, respectively.
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§ Mr. St. John-StevasThe current estimated average cost is £50 for an oral answer and £30 for a written answer.
§ Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is his estimate of the annual administrative cost of arranging for written answers to parliamentary question to be given during recesses.
§ Mr. St. John-StevasNo precise estimate is possible since the total cost would depend, amongst other things, on the number of such questions. But any such procedure would inevitably entail significant additional expenditure on staffing and parliamentary printing.