§ Mr. Prescottasked the Lord Privy Seal what has been the cost of servicing (a) Select and (b) Standing Committees of the House for each year since 1979.
§ Mr. BiffenAs was made clear by the hon. Member for Berwick-upon-Tweed (Mr. Beith) in a reply to the right hon. Member for Barnsley, Central (Mr. Mason) on 23 January 1985 at column458, the cost of servicing Select Committees is not readily identifiable. Costs, other than salary costs, which are clearly attributable to Select Committees have been given in the Select Committee return since 1979.
The cost of servicing Standing Committees is also not readily identifiable.