§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that large numbers of peers of the realm hold various State and Government appointments with fees, salaries and expenses totalling £3 million per annum, she will cause an inter departmental study to be made to ascertain to what extent these appointments can be reduced or allocated to the unemployed at savings to the national exchequer.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. The need for non-departmental public bodies is regularly reviewed by Ministers. Peers of the Realm are appointed to positions in these and other official bodies when they are the most suitable candidates for the post.