Catalogue description Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and MPs (the Lawrence Committee)

The appointment of Sir Geoffrey Lawrence QC as chair of the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament was announced on 19 December 1963. The terms of reference for the committee were to review and recommend what changes were desirable in the remunerationof Mr Speaker, Members of the House of Commons and also the allowance for Members of the House of Lords, having regard to their responsibilities in the national life and to the increases in expenses borne by members of both houses. On 18 February 1964, The Prime Minister (Alec Douglas-Home) took the view that it would be desirable to interpret their terms of reference as to enable the committee to consider the question of pensions for MPs and arrangements for the Members' Fund.

The first meeting of the committee was held on 13 January 1964 and the final meeting on 1 October 1964. The committte's report was delivered to the new Prime Minister (Harold Wilson) in October 1964. The Prime Minister presented the report to parliament in the form of a Command Paper (Cmnd 2516).