§ 54. Mr. W. J. Brownasked the Prime Minister whether he can make any statement as to the intentions of the Government in the matter of providing Members of Parliament with free postage and secretarial assistance and of adjusting their pay.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir, I am not yet in a position to make any statement, but these and other connected questions are under consideration.
§ Mr. BrownI am obliged for that reply but would the Prime Minister be so good as to indicate, if possible, roughly when he hopes to be able to make a statement on this very important matter?
§ The Prime MinisterI hope to do so fairly soon but the hon. Member will realise that there is a very large number of important subjects jostling for priority.
§ Mr. CocksIs my right hon. Friend aware that the correspondence of Members has become so enormous that those Members who cannot afford secretaries will either have to abandon attending the Debates or abandon their correspondence?