Records of Commissions and Committees, etc

The subjects dealt with by the commissions and committees in this group are varied although they often reflect core Treasury functions such as financial and establishment matters.

Bodies relating to financial matters: Collection and management of the revenues T 92; Decimalisation T 104, T 174, T 193; First World War needs relating to expenditure T 203, T 204, T 205, Trading with the enemy T 194, T 198; Reconstruction T 185; Reparation T 198; Trustee securities, savings and loans T 260, T 261; Economic difficulties of inter-war years T 187, T 200; Loan guarantees and grants T 190, T 191; Defence expenditure T 265; Advice to Chancellor of the ExchequerT 251, T 266; Exchange T 156, T 196; Reconstruction, post Second World War T 180, T 232, T 294; Council on Prices, Productivity and Incomes T 178; Radcliffe Committee on Working of the Monetary System T 159; Plowden Committee on Control of Public Expenditure T 291; Jack Committee on Review of Banking Services Law T 290.

Commissions and committees set up to investigate Treasury control over the Civil Service, including: early 19th century, inquiring into fees taken by officials T 90, as well as those of a later date conducting investigations into all aspects of the Civil Service Organisation, such as: MacDonnell Commission, 1912 T 100; Tomlin Commission, 1929 T 169; Priestly Commission, 1953 T 182; Scott Inquiry into Pensions, 1980 T 270. Also included are diverse bodies such as the early 19th century Property Tax Commission T 95, and the Asquith Commission on Equal Pay in all sectors of the economy, 1944 T 189.

Commissions set up to investigate boundaries of local government and parliamentary constituencies: T 72, T 96, T 107, T 183, T 184.

Bodies dealing with compensation and other issues relating to: Slavery, land and war T 71, T 75, T 76, T 77, T 78, T 79, T 81, T 89, T 91, T 93, T 94; Compensation issues post First World War T 80; Accounts and vouchers that some early 19th century commissioners appointed to build harbours, canals, roads and bridges were obliged to deposit with the Treasury T 82, T 83, T 85, T 86, T 87 and those dealing with prizes during conflicts of the period T 84, T 88; Awards to inventors T 166, T 173, T 288; Education T 74; Oxford University T 73; First World War aims T 102; Corruption T 281; National galleries and museums T 105; Arms trade T 181; International air travel T 271; Fees for honours T 202; Stolen art and treasures T 209; Intermediaries between business interests and government departments T 167.

Also included: Russian Liquidation Committee T 255; Russian Accounts Committee (Ministry of Munitions) T 255; Committee on National Savings (Page Committee) T 306; Interim Committee on Polish Affairs T 279; Royal Commission on Honours T 348.

Topics

Art, architecture and design

Canals and river transport

Government finances

Taxation

Trade and commerce

Conflict

Pay and pensions

Slavery

Weapons

Museums and galleries

Banking

Operations, battles and campaigns

Sex and gender

The bodies in this group vary greatly in their status and function and greater detail of the administrative history of individual commissions, etc, will be given at series level. In brief, they range from those set up by Treasury minute, warrant or letter to those set up by statute, letters patent or royal warrant.