§ Mr. MontagueMay I ask you, Mr. Speaker, whether you are in a position to give the House any guidance on the date of payment of Members' salaries?
§ Mr. SpeakerIn what I have to say I wish to make it perfectly clear that this is for this occasion only, and will not affect in the slightest degree any future Elections.
I will read out an extract from the letter which I have sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who I gather—I hope I am not misrepresenting him—is prepared to comply with any recommendation that I may make. I have said:
I think there is a case for an ad hoc departure from the principle laid down by Speaker Whitley. The date which might reasonably be chosen on rough grounds of equity is the date after polling day, namely, 6th July, in the great majority of cases, and the equivalent date in those constituencies where polling took place on a subsequent date.I added that I was prepared to give this as my view to the House of Commons.That means, of course, that those Members whose constituencies polled on 5th July, and those who were unopposed, will get their salaries from 6th July, and those whose constituencies polled later will get their salaries from the day after the poll in theid constituencies