HC Deb 11 December 1995 vol 268 cc489-90W
Mr. Redmond

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what funding Lady Thatcher continues to receive from Her Majesty's Government for her private office and staff costs; how much she has received to date since she ceased to be a Member of this House; and if he will make a statement. [4488]

Grade levels 1 to 5 change between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1995
Departments and their agencies Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food — -1 -5 -4 -13
Cabinet Office and Central Statistical Office1 -3 -3 -7 +4 -13
Central Office of Information — — — -2 -3
HMSO — — -1 — -9
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Treasury1 -1 -5 -1 +1 +13
Customs and Excise — -1 -2 -1 -13
Government Actuary — — — — +1
Inland Revenue — -1 -7 -16 -15
Department of National Savings — — -2 +2 -1
National Investment and Loans Office — — — — —
Registry of Friendly Societies — +1 — +3 +5
Royal Mint — — — — -2
Paymaster — — — — —
Defence +1 -19 -47 -20 -76
Education and Employment1 — -5 -6 +1 -18
Environment and National Heritage1 -1 -4 -23 -10 -71
HSE/HSC — — — +1 +2
Ordnance Survey — — — — +5
Office of Water Services2 — — +1 — +4
Foreign and Commonwealth Office — — — +1 -17
Overseas Development Administration — -3 — -2 -1
Health and Social Security1 +1 -2 -20 +3 -26

Mr. Freeman

All former Prime Ministers are eligible to receive an allowance to assist them 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.

The maximum amount of the allowance available to former Prime Ministers during the current financial year is £42,754, plus £4,275 for contributions to pension schemes of members of staff whose salaries are paid from the allowance.

I do not think it right to disclose the amounts of this allowance claimed by individual former Prime Ministers, any more than the House discloses details of claims by individual Members under the office costs allowance.