Question
To ask the Senior Deputy Speaker what has been the (1) individual, and (2) total, cost of the five most recent hereditary peer by-elections in the House of Lords.
The costs incurred in conducting the five most recent hereditary peer by-elections are set out in the table below. Three of these ballots were for two vacancies.
| Date | Cost (inclusive of VAT) |
Rotherwick, L. – Conservative | March 2022 | £420 |
Brabazon of Tara, L., Swinfen, L. (combined) – Conservative | July 2022 | £600 |
Ullswater, V., Colwyn, L. (combined) – Whole House | October 2022 | £900 |
Listowel, E. – Crossbench | October 2022 | £390 |
Astor of Hever, L., Home, E. (combined) – Conservative | October 2022 | £600 |
TOTAL |
| £2,910 |
These costs represent the fees to be paid to Civica, the contractor that supports the Administration in conducting by-elections. They exclude the cost of time spent by House of Lords staff, for whom such work forms part of their normal duties, which cannot therefore be costed separately.