§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if any guidance is given to Departments on the procedures for answering parliamentary questions for written answer.
§ Mr. Norman LamontNo. The procedure adopted is essentially a matter for the departmental Minister concerned. Guidance, reflecting the recommendations of the Select Committee on Parliamentary Questions of Session 1971–72, can be found in "Erskine May" (20th edition, pages 331–47).
Departments have been given an advisory level at which the cost of answering a parliamentary question should be referred to Ministers; that level is currently £250 and was announced in a written answer on 14 March 1988 by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General at column 429. This does not, however, alter the discretion of individual Ministers to decide that a particular question should be answered partially or in full, regardless of cost.