Leader of the House written question – answered at on 6 April 2010.
To ask the Leader of the House
(1) how much in public duty costs allowance has been paid to former Prime Ministers in each year since 1991;
(2) what the limit is of the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and when that limit will next be reviewed;
(3) what rules apply to claims made by former Prime Ministers from the public duty costs allowance;
(4) which office administers the public duty costs allowance for former Prime Ministers; and what checks are made to ensure that claims against the allowance meet the criteria for funding from the allowance;
(5) what guidance is provided to former Prime Ministers on claiming from the public duty costs allowance; and if she will place a copy of that guidance in the Library.
I have been asked to reply.
The public duties cost allowance, which is administered by the Cabinet Office, is paid in respect of office and secretarial expenses incurred by former Prime Ministers in connection with their public duties. All claims must be supported by documentary evidence. The allowance is not payable if the former Prime Minister is occupying the position of Leader of the Opposition. The allowance is linked to the ceiling of the centralised arrangements for payment of staff and secretarial support for MPs with London constituencies.
Information on payments before the 1997-98 financial year is obtainable only at disproportionate cost. The total amount reimbursed each year, on a cash basis, on the public duties costs allowance is:
Maximum allowance which can be claimed by each former Prime Minister (£) | Total claimed by former Prime Ministers (£) | |
1997-98 | 47,568 | 171,827 |
1998-99 | 49,232 | 175,402 |
1999-2000 | 50,264 | 171,984 |
2000-01 | 51,572 | 167,955 |
2001-02 | 52,760 | 186,922 |
2002-03 | 72,310 | 278,615 |
2003-04 | 74,985 | 235,809 |
2004-05 | 77,534 | 274,794 |
2005-06 | 84,081 | 294,546 |
2006-07 | 87,276 | 244,638 |
2007-08 | 90,505 | 174,551 |
2008-09 | 100,205 | 190,888 |
Yes1 person thinks so
No4 people think not
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