To ask the President of the Council what was the cost of the production of claim forms for (i) the Members' Car Allowance Scheme, (ii) the Members' constituency mileage continuation sheets, (iii) C1 reimbursement, (iv) C2 direct payment and (v) C3 direct payment secretarial claim forms; how many staff are employed to administer them; and at what cost in the last year for which figures are available. [77625]

The cost of the production of the forms in the 1998 calendar year were as follows:

• C1 forms £230.23
• C2 forms £342.36
• C3 forms £368.11.

No copies of the Members Car Allowance Scheme and Mileage booklets were produced in the period as existing stocks were used.All staff who are employed on the administration of these forms have other duties and so it is not possible to give completely accurate salary costs. However, total staff costs of paying car allowances and expenses paid in respect of forms C1 and C2 is in the region of £175,000.