§ 21. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what salaries are proposed for the chairman and members of the Highland Development Board.
§ Mr. RossI cannot at this stage quote specific figures, but the remuneration of the Chairman and other members will be commensurate with their duties and responsibilities and with the qualities and qualifications for which we are looking.
§ Mr. GrimondIs the Secretary of State aware that, if that Answer means what I hope it means, I am grateful for it? Is he aware also that this is a very important job? When he is arguing with the Treasury, as he no doubt has to do, will he draw the Treasury's attention to the fact that, if we can afford to pay the Chairman of the National Incomes Commission £15,000 a year, which I do not begrudge him, we shall have to offer a very good salary to attract the right type of man for this immensely important job?
§ Mr. RossI am grateful for the right hon. Gentleman's gratitude. I assure him that we mean what we say. What counts here is the job and the man. That is one of the reasons why we have not put any figure into the Bill, because we want to have some room for manoeuvre in respect of the quality of the man we want.
§ Mr. NobleIt is difficult to decide a salary until one has decided about the job. As we have heard nothing about the job, we appreciate that the Secretary of State cannot decide on the salary.
§ Mr. RossAll that I can deduce from that is that the right hon. Gentleman has not been listening to the debates in the Standing Committee.
§ Mr. William HamiltonWould my right hon. Friend indicate to the House, so as to give us some idea of the salary he has in mind, whether he would regard the Chairman of the Highland Development Board as four times more valuable than the Leader of the Opposition?