§ 63. Mr. LONGBOTTOMasked the Minister of Transport how many of the new chief commissioners of transport under the Road Traffic Act, 1930, are in receipt of a pension; and what is the exact amount in each case?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Mr. Herbert Morrison)The holders of six out of the 13 such appointments are in receipt of pensions based on previous public service. I understand that three of these receive pensions of £466 and £833 a year in respect of police service; two, pensions of £395 and £683 a year in respect of Army service; and one, of £750 a year in respect of Colonial service.
§ Mr. LONGBOTTOMAs there are about 2,500,000 persons unemployed in this country, could not my right hon. Friend find six men of sufficient administrative capacity to fill these posts?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIs not real efficiency and fitness for the post the sole criterion in these appointments?
§ Mr. MORRISONPerhaps I had better make this position clear. The appointment of 13 traffic commissioners was not intended to be a solution of the unemployment problem. When the House conferred this discretion upon me, I gave assurance after assurance that I would use my discretion to appoint the best persons available. That I have done, and in every public appointment which I make I shall always do that, whatever criticism I may receive. I had to have a certain number of chief constables who have been doing this work for many years past. The appointments are temporary; they are for a limited number of years. No pension attaches to them and the House could not expect a chief constable to give up his pension rights to come over to me; and therefore this was the only thing to do. I entirely agree with the general principle of my hon. Friend, but I could not have applied that principle exhaustively unless I had definitely appointed people who, in my judgment, were less effective for this service than the people whom I have appointed. I promised the House that I would appoint the best people. That I have done, and that I shall do in all future appointments.
§ Mr. LONGBOTTOMMay I give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment at an early opportunity?
§ 64. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that he has appointed Mr. Riches, ex-chief constable of Middlesbrough, to be chairman of the Traffic Commission for the northern area, he will state the amount of salary he will receive and the amount of yearly pension for past services in the police force?
§ Mr. MORRISONMr. Riches' salary as traffic commissioner is £1,000 a year, and I understand that in accordance with the usual scale he will be entitled to a pension of £666 a year in respect of his police service.
§ Mr. MORRISONThere were other applicants, but in my judgment their qualifications were definitely inferior to those of Mr. Riches. Mr. Riches is a case in point. He has been co-ordinating the activities of about 20 licensing authorities in North-East England, and he therefore had the experience that I want, and for me to have denied myself his services would have been contrary to the public interest.
§ Mr. BATEYCan my right hon. Friend say what qualifications the chief constable of Middlesbrough had in traffic affairs?
§ Mr. MORRISONCertainly.