Parliamentary Costs (Hansard, 25 July 1985)

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will publish in the Official Report a table comparing the average cost of both Houses of Parliament including and excluding pay and allowances, each year since 1970 in terms of constant prices.

§ Mr. Biffen
Total identified costs for the Houses of Parliament for the financial years 1981–82 to 1984–85 are given in the table:

£'000

1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85

Cost of Parliament including pay and allowances 56,192 63,463 69,598 77,464

Cost of Parliament excluding Members' pay and allowances and Peers' expenses 35,743 41,419 42,981 48,082

These figures are expressed in cash terms. Figures in terms of constant prices and figures for earlier years could be obtained only at disproportionate expense.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will publish in the Official Report a table comparing the average cost of paying and supporting an hon. Member of this House with such information as he has as to the comparable figure for supporting a member of the Assembly of the EEC; and if he will compare the total costs of the Commons with such information as he has as to the total costs of the European Assembly, the French National Assembly and the Canadian House of Commons all for latest available date.

§ Mr. Biffen
The latest available figures on the pay and allowances of parliamentarians which have been compiled on a comparable basis are given in the 20th report of the Review Body on Top Salaries (May 1983). For the British House of Commons and the European Parliament these are as follows:

United Kingdom House of Commons

Salary Allowances

Basic salary of £14,510. Maximum salary of £15,362 for those who draw the London allowance of £852 pa which is taxable. Whole of salary taxable £8,752 secretarial allowance; £875 to meet cost of secretarial pension scheme; £4,376 to employ temporary assistance in event of illness of secretary; all maxima £5,518 (maximum) subsistence allowance. £200 allowance to assist in drafting Private Member's Bill. £1,459 to assist in clearing up the affairs of a deceased, retired or defeated Member of Parliament. (Year beginning April 1982)

630W

European Parliament

Salary Allowances

Same as national Member of Parliament, for example £14,510 for United Kingdom Member of European Parliament. Some countries, for example Belgium allow half of salary tax free. General allowance of £16,284 but if Member of European Parliament fails to attend at least 50 per cent. of the plenary sessions the allowance is halved. Staff allowances of £16,284 pa to cover salaries, travel and subsistence of staff. Subsistence allowance of £64 per day on sittings and so on.

With regard to the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question, no meaningful comparison could be made on the basis of figures available.

£'000
	1981–82	1982–83	1983–84	1984–85
Cost of Parliament including pay and allowances	56,192	63,463	69,598	77,464
Cost of Parliament excluding Members' pay and allowances and Peers' expenses	35,743	41,419	42,981	48,082

United Kingdom House of Commons
Salary	Allowances
Basic salary of £14,510. Maximum salary of £15,362 for those who draw the London allowance of £852 pa which is taxable. Whole of salary taxable	£8,752 secretarial allowance; £875 to meet cost of secretarial pension scheme; £4,376 to employ temporary assistance in event of illness of secretary; all maxima £5,518 (maximum) subsistence allowance. £200 allowance to assist in drafting Private Member's Bill. £1,459 to assist in clearing up the affairs of a deceased, retired or defeated Member of Parliament. (Year beginning April 1982)

European Parliament
Salary	Allowances
Same as national Member of Parliament, for example £14,510 for United Kingdom Member of European Parliament. Some countries, for example Belgium allow half of salary tax free.	General allowance of £16,284 but if Member of European Parliament fails to attend at least 50 per cent. of the plenary sessions the allowance is halved. Staff allowances of £16,284 pa to cover salaries, travel and subsistence of staff. Subsistence allowance of £64 per day on sittings and so on.