§ Mr. WATSON RUTHERFORDasked whether the £400 per annum for Members was to be free of Income Tax; and, if not, whether it would be classed for Income Tax as earned or unearned?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe salaries of Members of Parliament will be liable to Income Tax as earned incomes.
§ Mr. ARTHUR LEEWill that apply in the case of a Member who is absent during an entire Session?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI take it that such a Member will have obtained leave of absence from the House, and then it would be treated as sick pay.
§ Mr. LANSBURYSeeing that we are providing that working men shall pay at least a portion of the premium necessary to secure sick pay, will Members of Parliament be expected to pay a premium to obtain this payment in case of sickness?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI think the cost of elections is their contribution.
§ Mr. FELLasked if the payment of Members was to be made according to attendance at the House of Commons; if the payment of 400 per Member was to be a fixed fee; and if allowance was to be made for absence owing to illness or any other cause?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first inquiry is in the negative; to the second in the affirmative; the third, therefore, does not arise.
§ Viscount HELMSLEYDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that it is impossible for this House to lay down any conditions as to the payment?
§ Mr. FELLasked if any provision was made in the Budget for the payment of the Members of the House of Lords; and if there was any precedent in any country for the Members of one Chamber to be paid whilst the Members of the other Chamber were unpaid?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. With regard to the second part, I believe the Second Chamber in this country to be without a parallel in any other country in the world, and I have no reason to suppose that the problem which faces the man without means who is called upon to take part in politics is one which has in that House reached a very acute form.
§ Mr. FELLI did not ask as to the nature of the House; I asked whether there was any other country where the Members of one Chamber were paid whilst the Members of the other Chamber were unpaid.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEMy answer to that is "No," because there is no parallel to our present Second Chamber.
§ Mr. FELLasked if any additional payment would be made to Members in years when there was an. Autumn Session; and was the payment to be made for the Session or for the year?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. Payment is to be made by the year.