§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Prime Minister what was the annual total cost of the Prime Minister's office in each year(a) between 1974 and 1979 and (b) since 1990.
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 11 January 1994]: Figures on a consistent basis are not available. 320W Information on the total costs of the Prime Minister's office is not available before 1979–80. Spending in 1979–80 is recorded as £1.409 million, but that did not include charges for: the use of MOD aircraft; the use of buildings and for services supplied by the Property Services Agency and its successors; the use of the Government car service; the service personnel at Chequers; or for office services supplied by the Cabinet Office.
The present No. 10 budget now includes charges for all these services. On that basis, the total annual cost for the completed financial years since 1990 has been as follows:
Year £ thousands 1990–91 8,226 1991–92 8,664 1992–93 9,866 These figures show payments made in the years in question. In some cases, this may relate to expenditure incurred in the previous financial year.
§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Prime Minister when the hon. Member for Walsall, North will receive a reply to his question of 11 January, relating to expenditure of his Office.
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 8 March 1994]: I have done so.