Given all recent controversy over Speaker Martin's refusal to reveal the expenses of Members of Parliament, it's only fair to give credit where credit's due and praise the Commons authorities for the publication of the costs associated with at least one aspect of Parliamentary business: Early Day Motions.
According to House of Commons Factsheet P3 published in February 2008, "the printing and publication costs associated with Early Day Motions in financial year 2005/06 were approximately £627,000" exclusive of the costs of "editorial preparation and control and electronic publication".
So, do we get value for money? Judge for yourself. Here are some of my 'favourite' EDM's tabled by Members of Parliament during this session of Parliament:
- Praise for Cornwall's Patron Saint, St Piran
- A celebration of Bruce Forsyth's contributions to broadcasting
- The need for YouTube to be "socially responsible"
- The failure of Oystercard machines to recognise Scottish banknotes
- The definition of a pint of beer
- The achievements of a Department Store in Colchester
- The work of Dolly Parton
- The 'Year of the Potato'
By my calculations, £627,000 is enough money to pay the annual salaries of 32 newly-qualified nurses, 31 trainee teachers and 20 junior doctors.
EDMs are expensive, wasteful and have potential to turn Parliament into a laughing stock. They should be abolished.