To ask the hon. Member for South West Devon, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many Boundary Committee employees have visited Suffolk for the purposes of their work on the reorganisation of local government in Suffolk; what the duration of the stay was of each such visit; and what the cost was of (a) accommodation and (b) subsistence in respect of each such visit. (314863)

The Electoral Commission informs me that seven Boundary Committee staff visited Suffolk in connection with the structural review of local government in Suffolk.

The Commission further informs me that as the reviews of Suffolk and Norfolk were closely linked in the Secretary of State's request for advice, meetings in the two counties were frequently held on the same day, or on consecutive days. Accommodation and subsistence costs relating to these meetings were recorded together.

The total accommodation and subsistence cost of the visits to Suffolk, calculated where necessary on a pro rata basis according to the proportion of time spent at Suffolk meetings, was £1564.38. I will write to the hon. Member with a detailed breakdown of these costs and will place a copy of my letter in the Library.