HC Deb 15 July 1929 vol 230 cc33-4
46. Mr. THOMAS LEWIS

asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Committee to consider the subject of Ministerial salaries with a view to their revision and reduction?

51. Mr. BRACKEN

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Select Committee to examine into the expenses attaching to the duties of the office of Prime Minister and to recommend to the House such additions to his salary as may be found desirable?

The PRIME MINISTER

I could only initiate an inquiry into these matters if it were the general opinion of the House that I should do so.

Mr. LEWIS

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if, when deciding upon a policy of continuity with regard to Ministerial salaries, he took into account the poverty of the people?

The PRIME MINISTER

Yes, and also, if I may say so, the charges entailed upon Ministers.

Mr. BRACKEN

Is the Prime Minister, in taking his decision, considering the possibility of a working man occupying his present office, and the fact that such working man could not remain solvent if he had to meet his expenses; and, surely, there is a—

HON. MEMBERS

Speech!

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

May I ask the Prime Minister whether there was not an inquiry of this kind in 1921; whether definite recommendations were not made then; and whether he will not consider the desirability of putting those recommendations into operation?

The PRIME MINISTER

As my right hon. Friend knows, there is always a certain amount of delicacy in these matters, and the conclusion I came to was that the inquiry held in 1921 belongs to somewhat ancient history. If the House now desires anything to be done, I myself have come to no decision beyond saying that, if an inquiry is initiated, it ought to be in pursuance of an expressed general opinion of this House.

Major COLFOX

Does the Prime Minister not realise that in every part of the House there is a strong feeling that many Ministers' salaries ought to be increased?

Mr. STANLEY BALDWIN

I do not know whether I should be in order in saying that, so far as we are concerned, we should help in such an inquiry.

Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALL

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the general concensus of opinion throughout the country is that the Prime Minister is very much underpaid?