§ 34. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Minister of Transport the salary to be paid to the chairman of the Hotels Executive; and the length of his appointment.
§ Mr. BarnesThe authorised salary for the chairman of the Hotels Executive is £5,000 per annum. The appointment is to 30th September, 1952.
§ Mr. DaviesMay I ask the Minister on what principle these salaries are fixed? Would the Minister say that the job of the Executive in charge of the roads is no more important than that of the Executive in charge of hotels, or whether the two positions are comparable?
§ Mr. BarnesThe salaries are the same, and I should say that both positions are worth the money.
§ Mr. William TeelingWill the Minister say whether any of the ordinary executives are being dismissed in order that this particular gentleman may have the appointment of chairman, or is he just an extra one?
§ Mr. BarnesI do not know what the hon. Gentleman means when he talks about anybody being dismissed. These are appointments under the Transport Act. They certainly take the place of a good many railway directors, it that is what interests the hon. Gentleman.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-DavenportWill the expenses in this instance be in kind or in cash?
§ Mr. BarnesI have already indicated that so far that matter has not been settled. The Executives have only just been appointed.
§ Lieut.-Commander BraithwaiteWill the Minister state whether this gentleman is to be entitled to expenses to facilitate his progress from hotel to hotel?
§ Mr. PickthornCan the Minister tell us how expenses can be a matter of negotiation beforehand? How can expenses be anything but a matter of fact?
§ Mr. BarnesObviously the type of duties that different Executives have to perform will be taken into consideration by the British Transport Commission in settling any matter such as expenses.