§ Q38. Mr. Michael Morrisasked the Prime Minister what criteria Her Majesty's Government took into account when fixing the salary of the head of the Audit Commission; and what account was taken of the salaries payable to other senior public sector officials such as the head of the Civil Service and the Comptroller and Auditor General.
§ Mr. BiffenI have been asked to reply.
The salary of the Controller of the Audit Commisssion was determined in the light of the nature and scale of the commission's responsibilities and the need to appoint a candidate of appropriate capabilities and experience to a new post of such importance. The salaries payable to other senior public sector officials were naturally a factor taken into account; but they were not the only factor. The controller has to make his own pension arrangements out of his salary.