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<p>The Public Duties Cost Allowance is to assist former Prime Ministers with the costs
of continuing to fulfil duties associated with their previous position in public life.
A copy of the policy and guidance on the allowance is in the Library of the House.
The costs are a reimbursement of incurred expenses for necessary office costs and
secretarial costs arising from their special position in public life. The allowance
is not paid to support private or parliamentary duties. Civil servants are not entitled
to claim this allowance.</p><p>Current recipients of the allowance are published in
the Cabinet Office Annual Reports and Accounts. Previous recipients have included
Lady Thatcher; the current recipients who are former Prime Ministers are Sir John
Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. I also refer the Hon. Member to my answers to
him of 9 September 2016 to (UIN 44045, 44048, 44049, 44053, 44054, 44055, 44056).</p><p>The
Public Duties Cost Allowance rate is currently set at a limit of £115,000 per annum.
When originally introduced, the Government stated that it would be the equivalent
in amount to the Parliamentary Office Costs Allowance. I would note that that allowance
is now known as the Parliamentary Staffing Allowance, determined by the Independent
Parliamentary Standards Authority and that is currently set at the rate of £148,500
per annum.”</p>
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