High Speed 2 chief costs taxpayer £450,000 a year He studied at Bristol University and has a PhD, and lists his interests as swimming, sailing and singing. He is also a trustee of the Gate Theatre in Notting Hill, west London. Mr Bayley began working at HS2 Ltd last autumn and his contract was renewed last month. There is no suggestion that he has acted improperly. A spokesman for the Department for Transport said HS2 was searching for a permanent member of staff to fill the role. "HS2 is one of the most ambitious and significant transport infrastructure projects in a generation and requires very best people to make it happen," the spokesman said. In order to attract the highest quality candidates it is necessary to offer competitive rates of remuneration. This is an interim appointment and HS2 Ltd is now recruiting for a permanent position. HS2 said it decided to hire a temporary commercial director because it would not have been appropriate to recruit a permanent member of staff for the post before the Government had decided to proceed with the project. "We needed commercial expertise on board to ensure that arrangements for the possible next stage of design development were based on sound commercial principles to give best value for money," a spokesman for HS2 said. An interim director was appointed on a competitive basis. The recruitment of a permanent commercial director is under way as part of the new senior team. The contract for our interim director has been extended while this process is completed. HS2 is advertising for a permanent commercial director with a salary of around £155,000 plus benefits, more than the Prime Minister is paid. Yesterday, Danny Alexander, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, announced that in future senior staff must be on the government payroll to ensure they are paying the correct income tax and National Insurance, or their contracts will be terminated. A law is being drafted to require anyone controlling any public or private sector organisation to be on the payroll.