§ Mr. BYLESasked the Prime Minister whether the salary of the President of the Board of Trade has been increased, and to what amount; how long has the increase been paid; was it provided in the Act of last year that the amount of the salary should be fixed by Parliament; and why has that not been done?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe salary of the President of the Board of Trade was raised to £5,000 per annum from the date of the appointment of the present holder of that office, and that sum has been provided in the estimate for the Board of Trade for the current year. Should the House decline to vote the increased salary, the amount overpaid will be recovered.
§ Mr. THOMAS LOUGHHaving regard to the terms of the Act passed, will my right hon. Friend give some fuller opportunity of discussing this matter than can arise on the Estimates; and may I ask whether my right hon. Friend notices that the salaries paid in this country are much 826 higher than in other countries, and that many of the offices in this country which entitle Ministers to Cabinet rank do not exist in other civilised countries?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not think Ministers in this country are in any way overpaid. There will be ample opportunity when the Estimates for the Board of Trade comes up, which is the constitutional occasion, for discussing the matter.
§ Mr. A. C. MORTONWill the right hon. Gentleman undertake not to guillotine them?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes, certainly.