To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission, what contingency preparations the House authorities made for the possibility of a general election being held in autumn 2007; and what the costs were of those preparations. (157051)

Following the 2005 general election, the House authorities put in place revised arrangements for any future election. In bringing these arrangements to a higher state of readiness for the possibility of an autumn election a number of planning and other meetings were held. The cost of these was the staff time involved. This was not recorded.

Expenditure was incurred on the following:

It is planned to use both these documents at the next election whenever it occurs.

Coincidentally, in early October, the House authorities set up part of the temporary accommodation which is planned to be used by new Members immediately after an election. This activity had been scheduled for several months as a test of part of the post-election arrangements. The cost was £6,085.