§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister what discussions he or his Ministers had with the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) prior to the tabling of the question by the hon. Member for answer by the Prime Minister on 31 July; and what was the purpose of such discussion. [12735]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: As far as I am aware, none.
§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Coventry, South (Mr. Cunningham) of 31 July,Official Report, column 495, and the answer by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of 21 July, Official Report, column 442, what was the basis of the calculation in the answer of 31 July. [12736]
§ The Prime Minister[holding answer 27 October 1997]: The average cost of answering a written parliamentary question is £107.
The average cost was multiplied by the number of questions the hon. Member had tabled, 295, to give an estimated total cost of £30,000 since the beginning of May.
The cost detailed on 21 July, Official Report, column 442, applies to direct staff costs only.