§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his written answer dated 5 December 1980,Official Report, column 205, comparing the cost of maintaining a member of the European Assembly with the cost of maintaining a Member of the House of Commons, if he will update his answer expressing the figures in per capita terms.
§ Mr. AitkenAs we made clear in the reply dated 5 December 1980, no precise comparison is possible between the budgetary costs of the European Parliament and the House of Commons. However, the updated information is as follows:
£ millions 1European Parliament 2House of Commons Members of the Institution Salaries and pensions 37.2 22.2 Travel and subsistence 43.8 9.9 Secretarial expenses 44.2 26.9 Other 6.8 12.5 Supporting staff Salaries, allowances pension, etc. 4207.5 431.2 General expenses 25.9 18.0 Accommodation Rent 49.9 59.9 Operating costs 20.7 25.6 Security 6.6 12.3 Other Administrative costs Stationery, office equipment etc. 40.6 1.8 Publications 10.8 8.6 Payments to Parliamentary bodies 16.1 2.8 Other expenditure 622.7 — Total 502.8 107.5 Number of Members 567 651 The per capita cost per member is therefore: European Parliament: £886,772 House of Commons: £165,131 1 The figures for the European budget have been taken from the 1994 Community budget and converted to sterling at the budget rateof £l = 1.3243 ecu 2 The figures for the House of Commons have been taken from 1994– 95 estimates. 3 Salaries for the Members of the European Parliament are paid for by national Governments and are not included in the budget. 4 The budget of the European Parliament covers the cost of 3,790 posts of which 679—17.9 per cent. —are employed in the language service. The House of Commons administration vote covers the costs of 1,317 staff. 5 A nominal rent has been payable in respect of the Palace of Westminster since 1993–94. 6 Includes £8.4 million in the reserve.