§ Mr. Peytonasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long the tribunal of inquiry into the Crown Agents has been sitting; how many days of the week it usually sits and for how many hours; what fees are paid to members of the tribunal; what has been the cost to public funds of its sittings thus far; how much longer it is likely to sit; and when it is expected to report.
§ Mr. RaisonThe tribunal was appointed on 1 March 1978, held preliminary public meetings in April and July and began regular hearings on 18 September of that year. These have now taken place on 243 days.
The tribunal normally sits from 10.30 am to 4.15 pm on four days a week, except in law vacations and pauses between stages of the inquiry. The public hearing of evidence is likely to be completed by the end of January 1981, and the tribunal's report submitted towards the end of next year.
The chairman receives his normal judicial salary; the other two members receive a fee of £10,000 a year in respect of an estimated four days a week spent on the work of the tribunal.
Total estimated expenditure to the end of November 1980 is approximately £1.6 million. This figure does not, however, cover the costs of accommodation for the hearing in Government buildings or fees for legal services for which bills have yet to be presented or processed for payment.