§ Mrs. McCurleyasked the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many House of Commons Staff are transported from London solely for the purpose of Scottish Grand Committee meetings in Edinburgh; and what is the cost of this.
§ Mr. BeithSeven staff, comprising one Clerk, one Doorkeeper and five staff of the Department of the Official Report, normally attend Scottish Grand Committee meetings in Edinburgh. In the case of the meeting on 20 January 1986, the cost of travel, subsistence and staff travelling time/overtime amounted to £2,250.
§ Mrs. McCurleyasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the additional cost of transporting Ministers and Members of Parliament to Edinburgh solely for the purpose of meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee.
§ Mr. BiffenIt is difficult to establish with certainty, the additional cost to the public purse of transporting Members of Parliament to Edinburgh solely for the purpose of meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee. Such costs may be included, but not separately identified, in Members' routine car allowance claims and rail and air warrant costs relating to weekend visits to their constituencies and homes in Scotland.
502WThe costs to date of transporting Members of Parliament which have been identified as directly attributable to the meeting of the Committee held in Edinburgh on Monday 20 January 1986 amount to £1,350.
There is no additional cost for transporting Ministers as meetings of the Scottish Grand Committee are usually arranged on Mondays and Ministers will invariably be up in Scotland for the weekend; all they do is delay their return to London.