Short Money and Policy Development Grant Debate
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Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston
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Short Money and Policy Development Grant
Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston Excerpts(8 years, 9 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
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John Penrose
I can give the right hon. Gentleman exactly that reassurance. We will ensure that all political parties are involved in our consultation.
Ms Gisela Stuart (Birmingham, Edgbaston) (Lab)
If this is about responding to the deficit and the cuts are therefore justified, will the Minister explain how it is justified that the number of Spads has risen from 79 to 95, at an extra cost of more than £2 million?
John Penrose
As I said earlier, the cost of Spads has started to fall in the current Parliament. It is also important to remember that the total amount of Short money and policy development grant comes to dramatically more than the cost of Spads or anything of that sort.