§ 82. Mr. McInnesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what daily expenses and emoluments are granted in addition to salary to Scottish Ministers and Under-Secretaries in respect of the periods when they are resident in London; from what date have such allowances operated: what retrospective payments have been made; and to whom.
§ 83. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what allowances are now being paid to Scottish Ministers in addition to salary; and if these additional payments operate from the date of appointment.
Mr. McNeilNo emoluments in addition to salary are paid to any Scottish Minister. All Ministers, including Scottish Ministers, are eligible for subsistence allowances at normal Treasury rates when absent from their administrative headquarters and home in the discharge of their ministerial duties. No Income Tax relief is allowed in respect of expenses incurred during such absences.
Subsistence allowances have, since the date of their appointment, been paid to the resent Scottish Law Officers in the discharge of their ministerial duties in London, and a similar payment was made last year to my predecessor. The amounts of, and periods covered by, retrospective payments were:
Lord Advocate: £378 (3rd December, 1947 to 28th April, 1950).
Solicitor - General for Scotland: £181 10s. 0d. (23rd February, 1948 to 28th April, 1950).
The right hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirling (Mr. Woodburn): £339 18s. 0d. (19th October, 1947 to 15th December, 1949).
No claim for such subsistence allowances has been made by the present Joint 207W Parliamentary Under-Secretaries. An inquiry, dated 28th June, from my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. J. J. Robertson), relating to his period of office, is being considered.