To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission how many full-time equivalent officials were employed to deal with hon. Members’ allowance claims in the Department of Finance and Administration and its predecessor department in (a) 2006, (b) 1996 and (c) 1986. (165087)

At 1 April 2006 approximately 30 full-time equivalent, permanent staff were employed to deal with hon. Members’ allowance claims in the Department of Finance and Administration. Comparable figures are no longer held for 1996 and 1986.