§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the aggregate cost to public funds of the Royal Commission on wealth; and whether he will now take steps to disband it.
§ Mr. PriorAt 31 March 1979 the aggregate cost to public funds of the Royal Commission on the distribution of income and wealth since its appointment was £1,431,881. The Commission has made a valuable contribution to improve understanding of the trends in the distribution of income and wealth. As a consequence of the Commission's recommendations the Government's own regular statistics on income and weatlh are now providing more and better information. There is therefore no continuing need for a standing commission and the Queen has approved that the Royal Commission be dissolved. This will take effect at the end of July when the appointments of the chairman and other members expire. The Commission's seventh report—the fourth on its standing reference—will be published towards the end of June. A final report on the standing reference is due to be published in September. A short summary of all the Commission's studies will be published at about the same time.