§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection how many of the staff of the Price Commission have professional qualifications in accountancy; and what pro- 12W portion they represent of the administrative staff, excluding secretarial or clerical grades.
§ Mr. MaclennanThis is a matter for the Price Commission.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the normal term of office of (a) the Chairman and (b) other members of the board of the Price Commission; when that term will expire in each individual case; and whether any former members of the board have left their positions since its inception as the result of expiry of time, rather than through death or voluntary resignation.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe Counter-Inflation Act 1973, under which members of the Price Commission are appointed, does not specify a normal term. All the present appointments expire on 31st July 1977. Of former members, none has left as a result of expiry of time.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection who are the present members of the board of the Price Commission; when each was appointed; on the basis of what particular expertise each was appointed, or in what representative capacity; what is the annual salary or honorarium of each of the board members; and by how much those salaries have been increased during the last three years.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe present members are:
- Sir Arthur Cockfield, Chairman.
- Professor Douglas Hague, Deputy Chairman.
- Miss Sheila Black.
- Mr. Ian Davison, BSc (Eton), FCA.
- Miss Mildred Head, OBE.
- Mr. A. W. Howitt.
- Mr Arthur Walwyn John, CBE, FCA.
- Mr Kenneth Noble, CBE.
- Mr. Barry I. Petch.
The Chairman and six of the other members were appointed in April 1973. One member was appointed in January 1976 and one on the first of this month. The members do not serve as representatives of particular interests but between them have experience and expertise in a large number of fields, including manufacturing industry, distribution, the food industry, accounting and economics. Salary rates are substantially the same as 13W those shown in the Directory of Public Appointments, a copy of which is in the Library. There have been no increases other than those allowed in 1974 under the third Interim Report of the Top Salaries Review Body.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the current staffing establishment of the Price Commission; what is the current annual cost to public funds of this body, including salaries and administrative overheads; and what were the equivalent figures for 1st March 1974, 1975 and 1976.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe staff of the Price Commission at present number 659. Equivalent figures for 1st March 1974, 1975 and 1976 were 557, 714 and 729 respectively. The estimated total cost to public funds for the current financial year is £6.6 million. Equivalent figures are not available for periods ending 1st March 1974, 1975 and 1976, but for the financial years 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76 the figures were £3 million, £4.6 million and £6.4 million.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he will list the reports, other than the statutory quarterly reports, published by the Price Commission since 1974; and whether he will indicate briefly what action has been taken by his Department to implement any recommendations made in those reports.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe list, together with a note on the action that my right hon. Friend and his predecessor have taken on recommendations made by the Price Commission in their reports, is given in the Commission's latest quarterly report, which was laid before the House on 27th January.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection which of the members of the board of the Price Commission are considered to act only in a part-time capacity, and are remunerated accordingly; and which are full-time public servants, without other employment.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe Chairman is full-time. The Deputy Chairman and all other members serve in a part-time capacity.