§ Mrs. LawrenceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to raise the advisory cost limit of £500 for answering written parliamentary questions; and if he will make a statement. [122509]
§ Mr. TimmsThe advisory cost limit was last increased in 1997–21 July 1997,Official Report, column 442W—and is to be further increased to £550 from today.
The purpose and application of the advisory cost limit remains unchanged. It is intended to act as a threshold for disproportionate cost parliamentary questions. Any written question where the marginal cost of preparing the answer is considered likely to exceed the threshold may be refused in whole or in part on the grounds of disproportionate cost. Alternatively the Minister may decide that the question is to be answered irrespective of cost. There is no advisory limit for oral questions.
The advisory limit continues to be based on eight times the average marginal cost for written questions, which is now £70, rounded down to the nearest £50 for convenience of application.
§ Mr. Ben ChapmanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the average cost of answering(a) oral and (b) written parliamentary questions in the last three months. [122070]
48W
§ Mr. TimmsAs at April 1999, the latest date for which information is available, the average cost of answering an oral and written parliamentary question was £282 and £121 respectively.