§ 15. Mr. T. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Labour the cost to date of the Commissioners appointed to carry out the work of the public assistance committees?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe cost of administration under the Commissioners for the county of Durham and Rotherham County Borough up to 31st March, 1933, was about £21,100, apart from non-recurrent charges amounting to approximately £2,300.
§ 15. Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Labour the reasons why one of the Commissioners appointed to administer transitional benefit payments in the county of Durham has been asked to resign; and whether he can state the qualifications of his successor, the position previously held by him, and the salary and emoluments he is to receive?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONThe late First Commissioner in Durham asked to be relieved of his duties on personal grounds. His successor is a retired civil servant who has had long administrative experience in the Scottish Office and on the Reparations Commission, of which he was British secretary. The terms of his appointment are similar to those of his predecessor, in regard to which I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him on 28th November last.
§ Mr. THORNEDoes not the right hon. Gentleman think that one of the reasons why this Commissioner resigned was the humane methods that he had of dealing with transitional payments?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONNo, I do not.
§ Mr. LAWSONIs this new Commissioner receiving a pension as a retired civil servant?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am glad that the hon. Gentleman asked that. The Commissioner in question was entitled to pension, but he forgoes it so long as he holds the office.
Mr. MeENTEEIs it the practice for Commissioners who are in receipt of pensions to forgo them, or is this an isolated instance?
§ Sir H BETTERTONAs far as I know, the other Commissioners in Durham are not entitled to pensions.
§ Sir JOSEPH NALLIs the right hon. Gentleman aware whether this practice with regard to pensions is applied to officials of Socialist organisations?
§ Mr. HOLDSWORTHWill the Minister state if the personal reason why this Commissioner was asked to resign had any connection with certain reports published in the newspapers?
§ Sir H. BETTERTONI am sorry that the hon. Gentleman asked that because I do not think that it is usual to disclose the personal reasons which induced a man to resign.