HC Deb 29 January 1958 vol 581 cc363-4
44. Mr. Ernest Davies

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation whether, under the powers conferred upon him by Section 94 of the Transport Act, 1947, he will require the British Transport Commission to include in its annual accounts the emoluments of the chairmen, vice-chairmen, and members, respectively, of the railway area boards.

Mr. Watkinson

No, Sir. Under the railway re-organisation Scheme which was authorised by Parliament in 1954, the B.T.C. was made wholly responsible for appointing members of the area boards and for determining their remuneration. These boards are thus in a quite different category from area public boards whose members are appointed by the responsible Minister and whose salaries and allowances are published periodically by the Government. The Commission is in line with public companies by publishing in its annual accounts the total amount paid in fees to members of area boards, which in 1956 was just under £20,000. This figure relates to 40 members of area boards who had served the Commission in a part-time capacity for all or part of the year.

Mr. Davies

Yes, but why is the Minister and the Commission so secretive about this? The views expressed in the House at Question Time last week indicated that hon. Members felt they had the right to know the fees the members of these boards were receiving. Is it not most unfortunate that at this time when there is an attempted restriction on increases in the wages of railwaymen the members of these boards should have their fees doubled, as is believed by the men in the industry to be the case? Can the Minister state whether these fees have been doubled within the last few months?

Mr. Watkinson

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question. The figures I have quoted show clearly that the average remuneration is £500 a year, which, on a part-time basis, is the lowest of any of the nationalised industries.

Mr. Shinwell

In view of the fact that from time to time the British Transport Commission discloses the wages and the salaries of lower-paid workers in the transport industry, why should there be so much secrecy about the salaries paid to these people? What is the reason for it?

Mr. Watkinson

There is a whole range of salaries and incomes which are not disclosed, and quite properly so.

Mr. Davies

Is not the Minister, perhaps unintentionally, misleading the House when he suggests that the figures in the Report of the B.T.C. show that the members receive only about £500 a year? Is it not the fact that these figures relate to the year 1956 and that the accounts for 1957 have not yet been published? Is it not a fact that there has been a change since 1956?

Mr. Watkinson

As I said, if the hon. Gentleman will put down a Question about that I will answer it. The figures I gave are based on the answer to a supplementary question last week and are quite correct.