§ 55. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number of civil servants in receipt of salaries of £500 a year and upwards who have, in the course of the last 12 months, received increases of their permanent salaries, apart from War bonus, distinguishing those in receipt of salaries from £500 to £1,000, from £1,000 to £1,500, from £1,500 to £2,000, and over £2,000, respectively; and the respective amounts of increase of these salaries?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGI have circulated, to the various Departments a request to let me have the desired information at the earliest possible date, but my hon. and learned Friend will understand that the collection and collation of statistics from so many different sources necessarily takes some time.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIt is three weeks since I asked the question. Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman be able to get it for me in a week?
§ Mr. CLYNESIn furnishing the information will the hon. and gallant Gentleman supply figures showing the increase in the War bonuses as well as the increase HI the salaries?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGI have already sent out the request for the information. It will no doubt be undesirable to delay it, but I will obtain that also if possible.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLAre not the bonuses only for one year or does the bonus become a permanent addition to the salary?
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLBut is it only for the current year or does it become a permanent addition to the salary?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGThe bonus varying with the cost of living, its disappearance will depend on the course of the rate of the cost of living.
§ Colonel ASHLEYAt what point, if the cost of living falls, will the bonus disappear?
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it not the case that the bonus, in the case of highly paid officials receiving £3,000 a year, will never he reduced under any circumstances until the cost of living has almost reached that of 1914?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGIn this case, as in any others, the variations of bonus will follow the ordinary rule.
§ Sir H. CRAIKIs it not the case that it-is a fixed sum of £500 or £750, which represents only about 20 or 25 per cent, of their salaries, and therefore will never come down?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGIn the cases to which the right hon. Baronet is referring the bonus is an addition to salary. The bonus in their case will be variable as in any other.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWill it appear in the return or will it be left out of the return and left to the imagination of Members?