44. Sir H. DALZIELasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the basis of remuneration on which the controllers and liquidators of enemy firms and companies are employed; are they all employed on the same conditions; and will he lay a copy of the agreements upon the Table of the House?
§ Mr. PRETYMANSupervisors and controllers of enemy businesses are remunerated on the basis of the time actually occupied in the work at the rate of £5 5s. a day for principals, £1 11s. 6d. a day for chief clerks, and 16s. a day for other clerks. An increased rate has been allowed in a few exceptional cases, and in some other cases a special fee may be paid. No formal agreements have been entered into, but the controllers are informed by letter of the scale of remuneration. Perhaps the right hon. Gentleman was under the impression that these payments were made out of public money?
§ Mr. PRETYMANThey are paid at the expense of the firms controlled.
§ Mr. PRETYMANAccording to the time they take in actually doing the work. The work is measured by the hour, not according to the number of weeks or months that elapse before the work is completed—which is quite a different thing.