HC Deb 15 February 1996 vol 271 c711W
Mr. Andrew Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what were in each year from 1979 to 1994, in real terms,(a) the Tunning costs of Ministers' private offices, separately identifying expenditure on staff and (b) the running costs of the Department. [15357]

Mr. Burt

The information is not available in the format requested. Such information as is available is as follows.

The running costs of Ministers' private offices is only available for 1994–95 and is in table 1:

£
Salaries 1,474,194
Running costs 449,049
Total 1,923,243

Ministers are currently housed in Richmond house and all facilities are provided by the Department of Health. This Department has been responsible for paying its own share of the rent and rates since 1992. All expenditure on accommodation is included in the running cost expenditure of the two Departments, which is published in their annual reports, copies of which are in the Library.

The available information on departmental running costs in table 2.

£ million1
1982–83 2,008
1983–84 1,933
1984–85 1,850
1985–86 1,901
1986–87 2,026
1987–88 2,400
1988–89 2,364
1989–90 2,334
1990–91 2,483
1991–92 2,542
1992–93 2,798
1993–94 2,888
1994–95 3,010

Notes:

1. Real term—calculated on the basis of the December 1995 figures.

2. From 1987–88 running costs include costs of Accruing Superannuation Liability Charge (£165m cash in 1987–88).

3. ITSA moved to net running costs control from 1994–95.

Source:

Running Cost tables. The Government's expenditure plans 1986–87 to 1988–89 and Social Security Departmental Report (The Government's expenditure plans 1995–96 to 1997–98).