§ MR. O'DOHERTYTo ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give a Return giving the names of the Crown Agent to whom the £22,778 was paid by way of commission, the amount paid to each Agent, the services rendered by each Agent for said commission, and the salary, in addition to the commission, paid to each such Agent.
MR. BRYNMOR JONES () Swansea DistrictTo ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs 1638 whether the sum of £22,778 which has been paid as commission to the Crown Agents by the Uganda Railway Committee was paid as commission on the price of material purchased by them for the railway, or as a commission on the total expenditure on the railway; whether he can state what fixed salaries have been paid to the Crown Agents since the construction of the railway commenced; and whether any, and, if any, what, additions of salary have been allowed to those members of the Uganda Railway Committee who were, at the time of their appointment on the Committee, permanent civil or military servant of the Crown.
(Answered by Lord Cranborne.) The names of the Crown Agents are to be found in the Colonial Office List. They are paid fixed salaries sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The sum of £22,778 is the amount which has been paid to the Crown Agents under the one per cent. charge which they are authorised to make on all supplies and materials shipped by them. The sum arising from this percentage forms a part of the revenue out of which the office is maintained. The Crown Agents personally receive no commission in addition to their salaries. The question as to the amount of the salaries should be addressed to the Colonial Office. No salary has been paid to any member of the Railway Committee who at the time of appointment was a permanent civil or military servant of the Crown.