HL Deb 08 July 2004 vol 663 cc101-3WA

European Parliament

The figures for the years 1999 to 2002 (WA 146) given in my reply of 19 June 2003 have been amended reflecting changes in methodology.

Last year's Answer incorporated budget figures (i.e. what the European Parliament budgeted to spend) rather than outturn figures (i.e. what the European Parliament actually spent).

The European Parliament's own revenue has not been included in the past—this principally arises from levies on salaries, return on investments and pension contributions by staff. These revenues reduce the cost of the European Parliament.

The House of Commons is accountable for its own expenditure and has provided details of cash costs as follows. The requested breakdown of costs is not readily available.

£k 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 Administration Estimate 164.851 162.538 134.803 138.328 138.269 Members Estimate 91.495 94.417 118.850 130.022 130.960 Total 256.346 256.955 253.653 268.350 269.229

The Administration Estimate includes the costs of running the House of Commons itself (accommodation, staff, security, equipment, etc). The Members Estimate covers the cost of the salaries, expenses, training and IT support for Members of Parliament and their staff.

House of Lords

The House of Lords is accountable for its own expenditure and it has provided details of cash costs as follows. The requested breakdown of costs is not readily available.

£million 1999–2000 45.3 2000–01 45.7 2001–02 57.4 2002–03 57.6 2003–04 61.1

NUMBER OF SITTING DAYS sitting Days Parliamentary Year 2002–03 Financial Year 2003–04 European Parliament (5) 161 151 155.5 House of Commons 162 153 155 House of Lords 174 166 165

PER CAPITA COST PER MEMBER —k 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 European Parliament (6) 907 886 930 914 1,138 House of Commons (7) 389 390 385 407 409 House of Lords (8) 37 67 81 83 91

Notes:

  1. Figures for calendar years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003. Outturn figures for 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. Adopted budget for 2003.
  2. Converted at appropriate £ exchange rate for the year.
  3. Includes deductions from remuneration, revenue accruing from administrative operation and miscellaneous revenue.
  4. Cost to UK is derived from the UK's financing share after abatement.
  5. Includes plenary sessions as well as part-plenaries, committee days, political group days in Brussels and constituency days.
  6. Per capita cost based on 626 seats in the European Parliament.
  7. Per capita cost based on 659 Members.
  8. Per capita costs based on the number of Peers eligible to sit in the House of Lords at the beginning of each year. The number of Peers has reduced significantly since the House of Lords Act when 655 hereditary Peers ceased to be Members from November 1999.