§ Lord Windleshamasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will be proposing any increases in the Peers' expenses allowance and the secretarial allowance for Ministers and other paid office-holders in the House of Lords.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Young)My right honourable friend the Lord President of the Council announced today in another place that the Government proposed increases in MPs' pay, in MPs' secretarial allowance and in Ministers' pay of 4 per cent. We consider that it would also be appropriate to increase the Peers' expenses allowance and the secretarial allowance for Ministers and other paid office-holders in this House by 4 per cent. Proposals will be put before the House in due course. If approved, the new rates will come into operation from 1st July this year one year after the last increase.