Public Duty Costs Allowance

Leader of the House written question – answered at on 6 April 2010.

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Photo of John Mason John Mason Spokesperson (Work and Pensions)

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.

Photo of Tessa Jowell Tessa Jowell Minister of State (Regional Affairs) (London), Minister (Cabinet Office) (Also Minister for Olympics and Paymaster General)

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

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