Written question asked by Jacques Arnold (Conservative), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 3 December 1996. It was answered by David Davis (Conservative) on Tuesday, 3 December 1996 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: (Daily part reference c567W)What are the allowances and pension arrangements currently available to British MEPs. - Inc figures. (Holding answer 2 December 1996).

Answer: Mr. Jacques Arnold: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the allowances and the pension arrangements currently available to British Member of the European Parliament. [7111] Mr. David Davis: [holding answer 2 December 1996]: Members of the European Parliament may claim expenses that they incur in performance of their parliamentary duties as follows: general office costs; travel within their member state and to official meetings or conferences; subsistence costs while attending official meetings; and costs of employing secretaries of assistants. Pension arrangements for United Kingdom Members of the European Parliament are analogous to those for Members of the House of Commons. They are financed by the Exchequer and by contributions from individual MEPs at a rate of 6 per cent. of basic salary. MEPs may also subscribe to the European Parliament's additional voluntary pension scheme. Two thirds of payments to the scheme come from the EP budget, one third from participating MEPs.

Secondary information