HC Deb 29 November 1906 vol 166 cc301-2
MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Commissioners of Railways there are; what are their duties; how many days in the year these duties engage their attention; what is the salary attached to the office; and whether there is any pension when a Commissioner retires.

MR. ASQUITH

The Railway Commissioners are appointed under the Railway and Canal Traffic Act, 1888, and they have duties under the Workmen's Cheap Trains Act, the Telegraphs Act, and the Water (Metropolis) Act. They sit on about thirty-two days in the year, apart from other duties, of which there is no record. The salary of each of the Com- missioners is —3,000 a year, without pension attached.

MR. KEIR HARDIE (Merthyr Tydvil)

asked whether any of the five Commissioners were business men, or were they all lawyers.

MR. ASQUITH

I do not think the two terms are mutually exclusive.

MR. KEIR HARDIE

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether any of the five Commissioners are engaged in trade or commerce?

MR. ASQUITH

I understand that the Commissioner recently appointed is a gentleman of very large commercial experience in a great many directions.