To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the annual cost of his office.

In the financial year 1990–91, my office has a budget of £78,388.00.

Will the Chancellor draw to the attention of his officials the answer that he gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner)—that he spends about a quarter of his time on his official duties and that the rest of it is a sinecure on behalf of the Tory party? In that respect, I should have thought that he would be repaying a considerable amount of money to the civil service, such as three quarters of his travel expenses, and office costs which are spent solely on Conservative party duties. Can we be assured that his appointment as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is not a backhanded way of subsidising the Tory party? His job has nothing to do with the duchy, but is solely to administer the Tory party.

Ours is a humble little enterprise and it is very cost effective. It is certainly no sinecure, any more than it was when Labour Ministers discharged such responsibilities in the past.