§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Prime Minister whether the level of £250 as the normal cost ceiling for the answering of a parliamentary question includes specific or notional staff costs arising from administration, research and delivery of the answer; and if she will provide an analysis of the costs associated with the answering of this question.
§ The Prime MinisterI refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave on 28 July 1988 to the hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) at columns497-98. It is not the practice to give an analysis of the costs of individual parliamentary questions.
§ Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Prime Minister who determines the cost level beyond which a parliamentary question is referred to the responsible Minister before significant resources are committed; and what changes have been recorded in the cost levels, expressed at 1979 prices.
§ The Prime MinisterThe cost level is kept under review by Her Majesty's Treasury. It was originally set at £50 in 1965, increased to £200 in 1982 and then further increased to £250 in 1988 to reflect increases in costs.