§ 47. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Lord President of the Council what procedural proposals he expects to bring forward to extend the accountability of Ministers at Question Time.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweMinisters are already fully accountable to Parliament. Implementation of the
1987–88 £ 1988–89 £ 1989–90 £ Salaries etc. of Members of Parliament 14,478,702.22 15,785,477.81 17,042,032.64 Office costs expenses 13,786,197.56 14,568,579.36 15,871,657.47 Travel by Members between home, Westminster and constituency and within constituencies 4,322,804.16 5,023,845.31 5,905,744.74 Additional costs incurred in living away from home 4,763,539.21 5,384,650.53 5,493,942.31 The total expenditure from the House of Commons: Members' salaries etc. vote for each of those years was £42,444,582.70 for 1987–88, £46,905,668.40 for 1988–89 and £48,205,324.76 for 1989–90. The difference between the total of the specified amounts and the overall expenditure from the vote is accounted for by other expenses claimed by Members together with Exchequer contributions to the parliamentary contributory pension fund and Members' fund and payments for financial assistance to Opposition parties.