§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement concerning the operation of temporary secretarial assistance in hon. Members' staff [27628]
§ Mr. NewtonTemporary secretarial assistance is intended to meet the costs of a member who incurs further expenses in respect of his or her duties in obtaining temporary secretarial or research assistance while a person to whom a salary is paid by him or her is prevented through illness or pregnancy from providing such assistance. A number of practical modifications were made earlier this year as indicated by my answer to the hon. Member for Dewsbury (Mrs. Taylor) on 5 April 1995,Official Report, column 1232. They were the subject of a circular issued by the accountant in that month.