Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Wallace of Saltaire on 22 January (HL4091), whether they will now answer the original question, including the total overall cost to public funds of all Government ministerial salaries; and what would be the total cost of paying those ministers who are currently unpaid, at the appropriate salaries attached to their appointment.

The Written Answer provided on 22 January was pertinent to the original question. The coalition Government continues to work within the limits set by the legislation (the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975) with regards to the number of salaried Ministers and there are currently no plans to change this. The total cost to public funds of all Government ministerial salaries based on legislation is approximately £4.5m per year; the cost of paying unpaid ministers a salary would be approximately £744,000 per year.