§ Mr. MillerTo ask the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire, representing the House of Commons Commission, what estimate he has made of the cost to the House of(a) the conducting of each division of the House (i) before and (ii) after 10 pm and (b) each hour of the House's sitting after 10 pm, in each case including all costs relating to staff and the Parliamentary Estate. [100746]
§ Mr. KirkwoodThe cost to the House of conducting divisions is met from the day-to-day budgets of House departments. The figures are not separately identified.
For divisions after 10 pm, no additional staff or services are required when the House divides, so no separately identifiable costs are incurred for such divisions. Some additional costs are incurred when House staff have to stay after 11 pm. e.g. for providing late night transport for staff of the House and others (e.g. security staff).
The fixed costs of running the estate are incurred regardless of what time the House rises.