§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Prime Minister (1) what restrictions govern the spending by former Prime Ministers of their annual allowances;
(2) if he will list the total allowances paid to each former Prime Minister in each year since 1991;
(3) what mechanisms are in place to monitor the use of allowances paid to former Prime Ministers.
§ The Prime MinisterOn 1 April 1991, I introduced an allowance to assist former Prime Ministers with the continuing heavy burden of office and secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance is similar in purpose and amount to the parliamentary office costs allowance but is paid in respect of public not parliamentary duties.
902WThe total payments from the allowance are as follows:
Year Payments £ 1991–92 88,956 1992–93 124,981 1993–94 1130,000 1 Estimate. I do not think it right to disclose the amounts claimed by individual former Prime Ministers, any more than the House discloses details of claims by individual Members under the office costs allowance.
Payments from the allowance are subject to the same scrutiny and controls as other payments from voted monies.