§ 48. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Prime Minister whether the terms of reference of the Committee on Ministerial Emoluments have now been settled; and whether they will include the question of extra payment to certain Members of the House of Commons who are not members of His Majesty's Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERAs regards the first part of the question, the general scope of the inquiry has been settled, but not the actual terms of reference. As regards the second part, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on Tuesday last to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Leeds (Mr. Denman). Up to the present I have received no indication that there is a general desire for an inquiry into the question raised.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that the expression "general scope" does not include the question of the payment of salaries to Leaders of the Opposition?
§ The PRIME MINISTER"General scope" is the form of words that I used in accepting the suggestion made by the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby), but the actual terms of reference have not been settled.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYDoes that mean that it applies only to Ministers' emoluments, and not to those of Leaders of the Opposition?