As a student of economics I am familiar with the concept of perverse incentives.

Perverse incentives comes to mind when I wonder why the Iraq Enquiry set up by the Labour Party to investigate issues surrounding the decision to invade Iraq seem to lack any sense of urgency.

Members of the Iraq Inquiry Committee are paid at the following rates: Chairman – £790 per day; Committee members – £565 per day.

Members of the Committee are reported to be angry that they are being urged to complete their meticulous examination of all the issues. Removal of the perverse incentive might help resolve the issue. I propose that, from now on, the Committee Members should be paid at Living Wage rate, with a 50% bonus for the Chairman.

David Walker

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