§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Lord President of the Council on how many occasions in the past five years he has knowingly provided incomplete information in answers to parliamentary questions other than on grounds of disproportionate cost; and on what subjects.
§ Mr. NewtonI answer parliamentary questions on the basis set out in paragraph 27 of "Questions of Procedure for Ministers". I also seek to comply with the Speaker's guidance on the need for brief answers to oral questions.
§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Lord President of the Council what were the costs attributed for answering written parliamentary questions tabled by the hon. Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) on 16 December 1991 at columns22–25, by the hon. Member for Daventry (Mr. Boswell) on 18 January 1990 at columns 382–89, by the former hon. Member for Pembroke, Mr. Bennett on 25 May 1989 at columns 695–719, by the hon. Member for Epping Forest (Mr. Norris) on 6 May 1988 at columns 628–44, and by the former hon. Member for Darlington, Mr. Fallon on 11 May 1987 at columns 4–14.
§ Mr. NewtonAs my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister stated in answer to a question from the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 13 January 1992 at column468, the answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Teignbridge (Mr. Nicholls) of 16 December 1991 was estimated to have cost £1,520. Figures for the other answers are not available and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.