§ 34. Mr. TINKERasked the Prime Minister whether he is in a position to say what the salaries of the Cabinet Ministers, known as Ministers without Portfolio, will be; and can he say the length of time he intends to keep on with these extra Cabinet positions?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)The salaries of the Ministers without Portfolio will be £3,000. These appointments will continue so long as the work of the Government requires them.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman not of opinion that a matter of this kind should have been discussed with the House first of all, because when an under-secretary is appointed to one of the Ministers without Portfolio a Bill has to be introduced, I understand, and surely if that has to be done in the lesser case the bigger appointment ought to be made in the same way?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it not the case that an Act of Parliament passed about 1919, or two or three years before, authorised the appointment of three Ministers without Portfolio?
§ The PRIME MINISTERWhat my hon. Friend has said is right. With regard to the hon. Member for Leigh (Mr. Tinker), what he said in respect of the appointment of under-secretaries is right. The appointment of Ministers without Portfolio requires no Act.
§ Mr. TINKERDoes the Prime Minister not think that future appointments of this kind might be considered by the House as a whole before they are made?