Official Opposition (Hansard, 17 February 1988)

§ Mr. James Wallace
To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will set out(a) the number of employees, (b) the machinery and equipment and (c) other benefits in kind which are provided to the official Opposition from public funds in addition to the assistance to Opposition parties, indicating the estimated annual value in each case.

§ Mr. Wakeham
The current annual cost to public funds of staff and benefits in kind provided to the official Opposition in addition to the moneys provided under the scheme for financial assistance to Opposition parties (`Short money') is estimated to be as follows:

Estimated cost £

(i) Opposition Whips Office (House of Commons)

4 staff ¹55,000

Office equipment (photocopier) 1,500

Postal services 15,000

(ii) Opposition Whips Office (House of Lords)

Postal services 12,000

HMSO supplies 1,500

¹ Pay and Earnings Related National Insurance Contributions.

In addition, a car is available to the Leader of the Opposition from the Government car service. The cost of this in the current financial year is estimated to be about £36,000.

§ Mr. Wallace
To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will list(a) the salary of the Leader of the Opposition, (b) the salaries of any Opposition Whips who receive a salary in excess of the salary of an ordinary hon. Member and (c) the annual cost to public funds of the use of the Government car service by the Leader of the Opposition.

§ Mr. Wakeham
The information is as follows:
658W

Salary at 1.1.1988 £ per annum

(a) (i) Leader of the Opposition (Commons) ¹48,148

(ii) Leader of the Opposition (Lords) 28,688

(b)(i) Chief Opposition Whip (Commons) ¹40,798

Assistant Opposition Whips (Commons) ¹31,738

(ii) Chief Opposition Whip (Lords) 25,618

(c) The annual cost to public funds of the use of the Government car service by the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons is included in Class XX, Vote 1 and is estimated to be about £36,000 in the current financial year. The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords is not provided with the use of the Government car service.

¹ The salaries quoted for office holders in the House of Commons include a reduced parliamentary salary of £16,911 per annum.

	Estimated cost £
(i) Opposition Whips Office (House of Commons)
4 staff	¹55,000
Office equipment (photocopier)	1,500
Postal services	15,000
(ii) Opposition Whips Office (House of Lords)
Postal services	12,000
HMSO supplies	1,500
¹ Pay and Earnings Related National Insurance Contributions.

	Salary at 1.1.1988 £ per annum
(a) (i) Leader of the Opposition (Commons)	¹48,148
(ii) Leader of the Opposition (Lords)	28,688
(b)(i) Chief Opposition Whip (Commons)	¹40,798
Assistant Opposition Whips (Commons)	¹31,738
(ii) Chief Opposition Whip (Lords)	25,618
(c) The annual cost to public funds of the use of the Government car service by the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Commons is included in Class XX, Vote 1 and is estimated to be about £36,000 in the current financial year. The Leader of the Opposition in the House of Lords is not provided with the use of the Government car service.
¹ The salaries quoted for office holders in the House of Commons include a reduced parliamentary salary of £16,911 per annum.