§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, as a means of cutting Government expenditure and an encouragement to industrial workers to limit their pay demands, he will take steps to limit all payments, expenses and fees payable to members of quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisations to £5,000 per annum for chairmen, £1,000 per annum for part-time members and all expenses, or a limit of £20 per day payable on production of authenticated receipts; and on this basis what he estimates would be the gross savings in a year.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisI have been asked to reply.
The Government intend to continue to determine the pay of chairmen and members of public boards on the basis of an appropriate rate for the job, and to pay expenses which adequately reflect current costs. Information to make a reliable estimate of the savings that would result from the adoption of my hon. Friend's proposals is not held centrally and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.