§ Mr. Gowasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what was the total number of traffic commissioners on 1st January 1978 and on the same date at the end of the last 10 years;
(2) what is the present number of traffic commissioners; how many of these are women; by whom they were appointed; what is their remuneration; and what are the qualifications considered suitable for appointment as a traffic commissioner.
§ Mr. HoramThe total number of traffic commissioners is now and has been for the past 10 years, 33, except for the period until 1st January 1970, when there was only one traffic commissioner for the metropolitan area—and so 31 in total—and from 1st August 1972 to 31st March 1974 when there was one chairman for two traffic areas, thus reducing the Great Britain total to 32. The commissioners are appointed by the Secretary of State but, apart from the chairmen, are all nominated by local authorities; one of them is a woman. The chairmen are paid at the top rate of the assistant secretary scale; the other commissioners are only paid expenses. The qualifications are sagacity, brevity, and a knowledge of economics and the law.