Private Office Costs

HC Deb 03 July 2003 vol 408 cc469-70W

Mr. Flight

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the running costs have been of Ministers' private offices in his Department in each year since 1997. [123109]

Mr. Paul Murphy

This question was put to all Northern Ireland Departments; however, we are replying only in relation to the Northern Ireland Office.

The Northern Ireland Office incurred the following running costs, in relation to Ministers' private offices:

£
	Running costs
2003–04	1128,164
2002–03	1,610,821
2001–02	1,127,731

£
	Running costs
2000–01	1,155,931
1999–2000	1,270,185
1998–99	1,294,715
1997–98	974,242
1 To end May 2003.