Mr. Speedasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what salaries are proposed for members of the Audit Commission; and what criteria have been used in determining them.
Mr. WaldegraveMy right hon. Friend's predecessor announced to the House on 25 January 1983, in a reply to the then hon. Member for Lewisham, West—[Vol. 35, c. 408] — that the rates of pay for members of the commission would be as follows:
- Chairman £7,550 per annum on the basis of one day a week.
- Members £1,350 per annum on the basis of one day a month.
Following my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's announcement in the House on 21 July 1983—[Vol. 46, c. 561]—of staged pay increases for the groups covered by the Top Salaries Review Body's report No. 19, the rate for members was increased to £1,445 a year from 1 August 1983 and the chairman's salary was increased to £8,097 215W from the same date. The rates will increase to £1,500 for members and £8,562 for the chairman from 1 January 1984.
The salary rates were determined in the light of the scale and nature of the commission's responsibilities and the need to appoint candidates of appropriate capabilities and experience.