§ Mr. Grimondasked the Prime Minister (1) what emoluments, payments in kind, perquisites and expenses, other than salaries, are paid to chairmen and members of Royal Commissions;
(2) on what principle chairmen and members of Royal Commissions are remunerated.
(3) why some chairmen of Royal Commissions are paid a salary but others are not.
§ The Prime MinisterIn general, public service of this kind is undertaken on a voluntary unpaid basis. However, a salary or daily fee may be paid; whether this is appropriate will depend on the circumstances of the individual concerned and the nature of the Royal Commission, and in particular on the time demanded of the chairman and members. The level of any salary or daily fee is determined in the light of the remunera-344W tion then being paid for public appointments elsewhere.
Chairmen and members of Royal Commissions who do not receive a salary may receive fees of £30 per day and £25 per day respectively. Alternatively, they may be reimbursed for financial loss caused by their membership up to a maximum of £10.75 per day. They also receive travel and subsistence expenses together with the stationery and other requisites necessary to carry out their work. Additionally, the chairman of major Royal Commissions may be presented with a reproduction silver inkstand as a tangible reward for onerous public duties usually performed unpaid.