HL Deb 05 July 2000 vol 614 c133WA
Viscount Tenby

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the annual cost of maintaining the European Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, including:

  1. (a) salaries, pensions, travelling allowances, secretarial expenses and other expenses for Members;
  2. (b) salaries, allowances and pensions and other costs of support staff;
  3. (c) accommodation, including rent, operating costs and security; and
  4. (d) all other administrative costs such as stationery, office equipment, publications, payments to parliamentary bodies and other relevant outgoings;
and whether they will indicate the per capita cost per Member as well as the average number of sitting days for each institution for 1999–2000 and the previous four years. [HL2995]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

The information for the years 1996–97, 1997–98 and 1998–99 was given in my Answer of 22 July 1999 (WA 129–130). The information for 1999–2000 is as follows:

Total Costs 1999–2000 £ million
House of Lords 45.3
House of Commons5 263.7
European Parliament1 610
of which cost to UK is 102.7
Per capita cart per member 1999–2000 £'000
House of Lords2 37
House of Commons6 400
European Parliament3 974
Number of sitting dais 1999–2000
House of Lords 158
House of Commons 157
European Parliament4 60
Notes:
1 Based on the calendar year and average £/eu exchange rate. The cost to the UK is derived from the UK's financing share after abatement.
2 Per capita costs based on number of Peers eligible to sit in the House of Lords at the beginning of the year.
3 The number of European Parliament seats increased from 518 to 567 on June 1994 and has increased since to its present total of 626.
4 It is not possible to give an exact figure for the number of European Parliament sittings. The European Parliament generally holds a five-day plenary session every month but there have been occasions when these plenary sessions have been over a longer period.
5 Total cost of the House of Commons includes capital costs in respect of new Parliamentary buildings.
6 Per capita costs based on 659 Members, increased from 652 at the 1997 General Election.