Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of bringing forward legislative proposals to require that (a) former Prime Ministers must have served a minimum of 12 months in post before becoming eligible for the Public Duty Costs Allowance (PDCA), (b) the PDCA can only be claimed for 10 years and (c) claims for the PDCA are published.

The Public Duty Costs Allowance was introduced to assist former Prime Ministers who are still active in public life. It has operated under successive administrations and continues to support Prime Ministers who formed previous governments.

It is not a form of salary; payments are made only to reimburse actual administrative costs incurred in the fulfilment of public duties. Generally, these costs can include managing an office (staffing, payroll and administration); handling correspondence as a former Prime Minister; and support with visits and similar activities.

The allowance has an annual limit of £115,000, which has remained frozen since 2011. The amount received by each claimant is published annually in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts.

The Government keeps the allowance under review.