Oral Answers to Questions

Philip Hollobone Excerpts

Monday 26th July 2010 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

We are working closely with the Department for Education on a number of projects to do with school sport. In particular, we want to ensure that proper protections are in place for school playing fields. That was a failing of the previous Conservative Government and of the previous Labour Government, and we want to put it right.

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

T8. May I praise my right hon. Friend for helping to expose some of the excessively large pay packages at the BBC, and ask him when something is actually going to be done about this matter?

--- Later in debate ---

The hon. Member for Middlesbrough, representing the House of Commons Commission, was asked—

[Mr Philip Hollobone (Kettering) (Con)]

6. How much it costs to print early-day motions in 2009-10.

[Sir Stuart Bell (Middlesbrough)]

The cost of publishing early-day motions, including printing, staff time and technical support, was approximately £1 million in the financial year 2009-10. Printing alone accounts for some £776,000.

[Mr Hollobone]

Taxpayers will be shocked by the figures that the hon. Gentleman has just read out to the House. Should this not offer scope for huge cost savings and, hopefully, be another nail in the coffin of the wretched EDM system?

[Sir Stuart Bell]

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his remarks, and he will be happy to know that from the start of this parliamentary Session older EDMs have not been reprinted weekly, saving 2.5 million sheets of paper and up to £300,000 in printing costs per year.