HC Deb 24 February 1966 vol 725 cc627-8
Q13. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of all persons appointed by Her Majesty's Government to Boards, Government Committees, Inquiries, etc., since October 1964, on both a full-time and part-time basis, with the salaries and expenses received in each case.

Mr. George Brown

I have been asked to reply.

No, Sir. The information is not readily available and could not be obtained except at a disproportionate cost to public funds.

Mr. Lewis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many trade unionists on lower incomes are rather worried about the continued spate of people who are appointed to these various boards at as much as 18 guineas a day expenses on top of already-large incomes? Does he not feel that it would help to get an incomes policy if some of this information was available to show trade unionists that the Government are treating everyone alike fairly and properly?

Mr. Brown

I do not share my hon. Friend's concern, and I do not think that many people outside share it. If he would consult the publications which we already issue—for example, Cmnd. 2848, issued in December 1965—he would find that a good deal of the information he wants is already printed.