HC Deb 17 March 1892 vol 2 cc1051-3
MR. J. E. ELLIS (Nottingham, Rushcliffe)

I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inspection Committee under "The Savings Banks Act, 1891," has made any proposals to the Treasury, under Section 4 of that Act, with respect to the remuneration of members and officers; and whether the Treasury has sanctioned them; and, if so, whether he will lay a Copy of the particulars upon the Table?

MR. HOWELL (Bethnal Green, N.E.)

had notice of the following question—To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can inform the House what remuneration is fixed for the members of the Inspection Committee of Trustee Savings Banks under the Act of last Session (54 & 55 Vic, c. 21); whether each member respectively is to be paid a like amount, and from what source the payments are made; and whether such payments will annually come under the cognisance of Parliament; and, if so, under what head in the Civil Service Estimates of each year respectively?

MR. GOSCHEN

I propose to answer at the same time the question given notice of by the hon. Member for Bethnal Green. The National Debt Commissioners have recommended, and the Treasury has approved, a scale of remuneration for the members of the Inspection Committee of Trustee Savings Banks. The chairman is entitled to receive £7 7s. for each attendance at a meeting of the committee, and each member £5 5s.; but the total remuneration of the committee may not exceed £600 in any year. The scheme provides for the payment of reasonable travelling expenses, in addition to this remuneration. I under- stand that the chairman of the committee—Sir Albert Rollit—a Member of this House, has not accepted, and does not intend to accept, any remuneration for his services. The Treasury has sanctioned the salary to be paid to the secretary of the committee, and proposals for the appointment of inspectors and for their remuneration are now under consideration. The payments are made from the sources specified in Section 4 of the Act—namely, to an extent not exceeding £6,000 a year from the interest earned in that year by the National Debt Commissioners in respect of the separate surplus fund which has accrued under Section 29 of the Savings Banks Act, 1863, and which does not carry interest to the Trustees of savings banks, and, if this sum should be insufficient, from contributions from the several Trustee Savings Banks. The money accordingly will not be drawn from the Exchequer, and will not have to be voted by Parliament.

MR. HOWELL

Will the right hon. Gentleman say by what body was Sir Albert Rollit nominated for the Committee?

MR. GOSCHEN

I prefer notice of that question, but I believe the matter was left, to a great extent, to the Trustee Savings Banks themselves.

MR. HOWELL

Does the right hon. Gentleman mean the Society of Actuaries of the Trustee Savings Banks?

MR. GOSCHEN

No, that is not my meaning.

MR. J. E. ELLIS

Will this come before Parliament annually?

MR. GOSCHEN

No, I think not; though, of course, hon. Members may raise the question. It will not come financially before the House. The House will remember the desire was expressed that this should not be made a Government affair. The House will, probably, be asked in the main to fall in with the arrangements of the Inspection Committee, but it is not proposed to make this a Government department.

MR. HOWELL

I shall take an opportunity to refer to the matter in Committee of Supply.

MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)

Was it not intended by the Government two or three years ago that this Inspection Committee should be a regular bonâ fide committee to do the work in a business-like way, and not as amateurs? Is it likely that the work will be so done when some of the Committee are paid and some are not?

MR. GOSCHEN

I belive this cannot be called an amateur body. I need not mention all the names again, but great pains have been taken to secure the services of eminent men. I have seen the first proposals made, and they seem to me to be eminently satisfactory. I shall be very glad to produce the instructions to Inspectors, showing the general scheme on which they are to work, and I do trust that nothing will be done in the House to discourage the committee in their very useful work.