The Treasury has completed its annual indexation of the average cost of answering oral and written parliamentary questions to reflect changes in civil service earnings and retail prices. The revised average costs, which will apply from 15 November 2006, are:

oral questions - £385

written questions - £140

The disproportionate cost threshold (DCT) relating to written parliamentary questions was set at £600 in 2002. The DCT will be increased to £700, also with effect from the 15 November 2006, and will apply across Government.