§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the right hon. Member for Middlesborough, as representing the House of Commons Commission, how many specialist advisers there are appointed by Select Committees; if he will set out their terms and conditions of appointment, including the fees and allowances payable when such advisers accompany Select Committees or their sub-committees on overseas visits; and whether specialist advisers who take part in radio and television programmes following such visits may retain any fees payable to them by the broadcasting authorities.
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§ Mr. Arthur BottomleyOne hundred and forty three specialist advisers have been appointed by Select Committees during the present Parliament, of whom 72 are currently assisting Committees. They are paid on a per diem fee basis for work done. Three rates are in use, based on the salary scales for university posts. The payments are in line with those 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. When accompanying Committees or Sub-Committees on overseas visits, specialist advisers are entitled—in addition to a per diem fee—to the same re-imbursement of expenses incurred as Members.
The employment and termination of employment of specialist advisers are entirely at the discretion of Committees. Specialist advisers are required not to make public use of information gained in the service of a Committee, except with the express approval of that Committee, until the Committee has reported, and in no case to reveal the deliberations of a Committee or Sub-Committee. In any work they undertake in a private capacity they must not do anything to suggest that they are acting with the authority of the Committee or Sub-Committee.
Subject to the above, no restriction is imposed on other work, including broadcasting, which they may undertake and for which they may be remunerated.