HC Deb 02 March 1925 vol 181 cc36-7
66. Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether any member of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into food prices receives any remuneration for their services, either in the form of allowances for expenses, loss of time, or in any other way?

Mr. GUINNESS

No member of the Royal Commission on Food Prices receives remuneration for his services. Under the general rules applicable to all commissions, the members are entitled to claim necessary travelling expenses and subsistence allowance when away from home at the authorised rates.

Sir J. REMNANT

Is it not a fact that there are some members of the Commission who are already in receipt of salaries from the Government?

Mr. GUINNESS

I will look into that.

Mr. LANSBURY

Has the right hon. Gentleman seen the statement in the Press that Sir Auckland Geddes is being paid at the rate of £1,500 a year as Chairman of the Commission?

Mr. GUINNESS

I have definitely stated in my answer that no one is being paid a salary.

Sir HENRY CRAIK

Is there anything to prevent a civil servant from being chosen to serve on a Commission quite independently of the question of his official salary

Mr. GUINNESS

That point is not raised in the question on the Paper which deals with remuneration for work on the Commission.

Sir H. CRAIK

The question I asked was whether there is anything to prevent a salaried member of the Civil Service from being chosen to sit on a Commission?

Mr. GUINNESS

No, that is quite a usual procedure.

Captain ARTHUR EVANS

Is it not a fact that the gentleman concerned has denied that he is in receipt of any salary from the Government?

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