HC Deb 01 November 1990 vol 178 c644W
Mr. Butler

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the backlog of overtime payments to hon. Members' office staff.

Sir Geoffrey Howe

There is a small backlog of overtime payments caused by many hon. Members giving instructions to increase staff salaries, authorising bonus and other payments and seeking information about their expenditure on office costs consequent upon the recent uplift in the maximum of the office costs allowance. I have been assured that this backlog is being progressed as quickly as possible.