MEPs are putting more and more formal written questions to topcrats at the European Commission, with the cost of responding to them estimated to be more than 8 million euros this year.



In 2013 MEPs put 13 400 questions to the executive. Last year MEPs were distracted campaigning in the elections, and only scraped a meager 10 800 questions between them.



With one inquisitive type tabling 193 questions already this year, and many others not too far behind, this year the total is estimated to reach some 17 000.



The commission has said that replying to that many questions requires the equivalent of 76 people working full-time.



Per question, that works out at 490 euros per answer.



How do we know this?



It's all laid out in an answer to a written parliamentary question...





490 euros well-spent.BM