§ Lord Ampthillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they propose to make any changes in the arrangements for funding the House of Lords Refreshment Department.
§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Belstead)The present financial arrangements for funding the Refreshment Department were set out by the then Leader of the House, my noble friend Lord Soames in a Written Answer on 13th February 1981.
It has now been agreed that, as from 1st April 1990, "net sales" (defined as sales of tobacco, confectionary and goods to be consumed or used outside the department, together with the cost of services at functions) will be excluded from the turnover figure against which the Refreshment Department's 50 per cent. gross pr of it target is measured. In all other respects the financial arrangements will remain unchanged, with pr of its earned on net sales continuing to count towards the gross pr of its achieved, and being included in the calculation of the net pr of its to be surrendered to the Treasury.