§ 30. Mr. Blackburnasked the Minister of Supply whether he will institute an immediate review of salary scales for research scientists and workers engaged in atomic energy projects in view of the inadequacy of the present rates.
§ Mr. G. R. StraussNo, Sir. The pay of research scientists and workers in my Department is under continual review.
§ Mr. BlackburnIs it not the fact that scientists and workers engaged in atomic energy, from Sir John Cockroft—£2,400 a year—downwards are earning, on average, less than half the amount that their equivalents in private industry are earning, and does not that very largely explain the fact that, 10 years after starting on the atomic energy programme, we are still not anywhere near having produced an atomic bomb ourselves and have been outstripped by the Soviet Union?
§ Mr. StraussI do not accept the contention of the hon. Member that the pay is so much less than in private industry; it simply is not true, particularly since the Chorley Committee Report has been put into application.
§ Mr. BlackburnSurely the Minister will agree that Sir John Cockcroft's equivalent in private industry is earning much more than twice as much as Sir John Cockroft's £2,400 a year.
§ Major Guy LloydWould it not be best to see that the travelling allowances are not quite sufficient to enable scientists to get as far as Leningrad?