§ 17. Mr. Murphyasked the right hon. Member for Middlesbrough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, what fees are payable to specialist advisers appointed by Select Committees.
§ Mr. Arthur BottomleySpecialist advisers are paid on a per diem fee basis—I am in difficulty as I do not have my glasses.
§ Mr. BottomleyThank you. They are paid on a per diem fee basis for work done. Three rates are in use, based on the scales for university posts. They are in line with payments made for similar work done for Government Departments. The current daily rates are £50 to £70 a day for professors, £40 to £50 a day for senior lecturers and readers, and £22 to £42 for lecturers.
§ Mr. MurphyI thank the right hon. Gentleman for his efforts to answer my question. Would he consider applying an overall strict cash limit to avoid a proliferation of specialist advisers?
§ Mr. BottomleyThere is a limit to the amount of money that can be spent on specialist services.
§ Mr. Christopher PriceIn its next deliberations, will the Commission consider getting away from the assumption that all specialist advisers are academics, such as professors? Is he aware that some of the best specialists and advisers serving on committees have nothing to do with universities, and are the better for that?
§ Mr. BottomleyThat appeals to me very much. When I was Minister for Overseas Development I saw craftsmen playing a part in rendering specialist services. Therefore, I am sympathetic towards that question.