HC Deb 10 March 1997 vol 292 c42W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what were the NHS salaries and wages costs for(a) general and senior managers, (b) nurses and midwives and (c) administrative and clerical staff in each financial year from 1988–89 to 1993–94. [18899]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

The information is as follows:

Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19349]

Ministers in his Department in the last 12 months have exceeded the advisory cost limit; and if he will make a statement. [19349]

Mr. Hague

Where the cost of answering a particular parliamentary question is estimated to exceed £450, it is the general practice for Departments to make it clear that the question could be answered only by incurring disproportionate cost. Given the large numbers of questions tabled, it would be unreasonable for my Department systematically to calculate the exact cost of answering every single parliamentary question.