§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister how many staff are employed in preparation and scrutiny of applications for honours; and what was the annual cost of(a) preparation of the honours list and (b) the Political honours scrutiny committee, in the latest year for which figures are available. [9412]
§ The Prime MinisterThe ceremonial branch of the Cabinet Office which handles all honours applications and related matters, including public nominations, comprises 18 people and has an annual budget of £368,000. The wider cost of operating the honours system, including estimates of small parts of the work of many people at554W home and overseas, could not be provided other than at disproportionate cost. Members of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee receive no remuneration.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister what plans he has for changes in the procedures for the allocation and scrutiny of honours. [9411]
§ The Prime MinisterI plan to continue recommending bi-annual honours lists, for which the sole criterion will be quality of service in a wide range of areas of national life. I have asked that those scrutinising nominations should give weight to achievements in areas of service identified by the Government as priorities for improvement.
§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Prime Minister if he will list the names of the members of the Political Honours scrutiny committee and the number of occasions on which it met in each of the last five years. [9413]
§ The Prime MinisterThe members of the political honours scrutiny committee are Lord Pym MC DL, chairman, the Lord Cledwyn of Penhors CH and the Lord Thomson of Monifieth KT. The number of meetings to scrutinise those proposed on account of their political services, including working life peers, were as follows:
- 1993: 4
- 1994: 3
- 1995: 4
- 1996: 4
- 1997: 2 (to date)