Written question asked by Lord Barnett (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Sassoon (Conservative) on Thursday, 11 November 2010.

Spending Review 2010

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Statement by Lord Sassoon on 20 October (Official Report, col. 833), whether they included the number of Ministers when they said ““the administrative budgets of every main government department will be cut by a third””.

Answer: Departmental administration budgets cover all spending which is not directly related to frontline service provision. For the most part, the pay and private office support costs of Ministers will therefore fall within administration budgets. It is for individual departments to decide how to implement their administration budget reductions. Reductions of one third are not required in every budget area, but across each department's administration budget as a whole. There is, therefore, no necessary connection between cuts in administration budgets and the number of Ministers. The Cabinet decided to take a 5 per cent pay cut when the coalition Government came into office. Pay will then be frozen for the next five years.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 3223; 722 c133-4WA
Session: 2010-12
Related items: Comprehensive Spending Review
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Lords
Subjects: Administration Finance Government departments Ministers Cuts
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk