HC Deb 14 April 1953 vol 514 cc24-5
32. Sir J. Mellor

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to require Members of this House, who, in any period, receive both sickness benefit and Parliamentary salary, to surrender the amount of the former to the Exchequer.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)

I would suggest that this matter should be left on the basis that a Member will decide, in the light of his individual circumstances, whether it is proper for him to draw his full Parliamentary salary in respect of any period when he is drawing sickness benefit from the Ministry of National Insurance.

Sir J. Mellor

Would my hon. Friend agree that this is not merely an academic question, as I have drawn his attention to a particular case? Will he also agree that persons paid through public funds are not generally permitted to draw both pay and sickness benefit and that it is quite wrong for Members of Parliament to be treated as an exception?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think it is any part of my duty to comment on the general issue to which my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. Callaghan

Would the hon. Gentleman consider suggesting to hon. Members who enjoy substantial private incomes that it would be seemly for them to keep quiet on the subject of Parliamentary salaries?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not think that either is any part of my duties.

Mr. S. Silverman

Is the Financial Secretary to the Treasury aware that the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Sir J. Mellor) is quite wrong in thinking that there is anything in the general law of the land which is hostile to a sick man getting his full salary from his employer and still getting the insurance benefits for which he has paid his weekly contributions? In view of that, will the Financial Secretary say what the saving to the Exchequer would be if this very mean proposal were adopted, and whether he has had from the 1922 Committee any proposals which are more constructive than this for slashing Government expenditure?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I have answered the Question on the Paper, and I do not think it would be helpful if I pursued the matter along the avenue which the hon. Gentleman opens to me.

Sir J. Mellor

In view of my dissatisfaction with the answer given, I propose to raise the matter on a future occasion.