25. Major C. LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister what are the duties and hours of work of the 363 employés of the League of Nations; what proportion of their emoluments is paid as frais de représentation and whether such proportion is free of tax?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs the answer to this question is rather long, I propose, with the permission of the hon. and gallant Member, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ The following is the answer:—
§ The figures given as to the number of persons employed on the Secretariat of the League of Nations at Geneva include experts on legal, political, economic, financial, and other matters, interpreters 438 and translators, secretaries, stenographers, duplicators, messengers, etc., also house staff of caretakers, cleaners, firemen, etc. These constitute the Secretaries and staff provided for by Article VI. of the Covenant.
§ Their duties are to perform the secretarial work necessitated by the engagements laid down in Articles 1 to 26 of the Covenant, which have been subscribed to by 46 States.
§ The office hours of the clerical staff are from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., with 1½ hours for lunch. House staff have an eight-hour day or its equivalent, in accordance with the Swiss law.
§ The Secretary-General and three undersecretaries-general are the only persons paid frais de représentation, which, in the case of the Secretary-General, amount to 60 per cent., and in that of the Deputy-Secretary-General to 40 per cent., and of the other two under-secretaries-general to 25 per cent. of their total emoluments. These sums are not subject to tax.
26. Major LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether, in addition to the salary and allowance of 200,000 gold francs paid annually to Sir Eric Drummond, the Secretary-General of the League of Nations, this gentleman has yet been provided with a house in Geneva; if so, at what cost; whether in addition to salary and allowances, he receives travelling expenses; and whether any portion of the sum paid to him is free of tax?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; the second does not, therefore, arise. The answer to the third and fourth parts of the question is in the affirmative.
27. Major LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether the official of the Treasury appointed to serve on the League of Nations' Committee to consider the organisations, numbers, salaries, and allowances of the permanent staff of the Secretariat of the League of Nations is to receive a special salary and allowances for that work; and, if so, at what rate and by whom are they to be paid?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe representative of the British Treasury, in common with the other members of the Committee, will receive from the League 439 his travelling expenses to and from Geneva, and an allowance of 70 gold francs a day while actually engaged on the work of the Committee, but no special salary.
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am afraid I have not the information. I will let my hon. and gallant Friend know later.