HC Deb 03 June 1954 vol 528 cc1440-1
29. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, on introducing the promised legislation to raise the salaries of junior Ministers, he will undertake to make such increases retrospective to Monday, 24th May, 1954.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I am not in a position to make any statement on this matter at present.

Mr. Wyatt

Will the Minister bear in mind that there is no controversy whatever about the salaries of junior Ministers being thoroughly inadequate? Will he also bear in mind that they have, for example, to entertain people without receiving an entertainment allowance or being able to charge the cost of that entertainment against Income Tax? They are put in a very difficult and embarrassing position, and it would be unfair not to make any legislation retrospective.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

While appreciating the hon. Gentleman's solicitude, I am afraid that I cannot add anything to my answer.

Mr. Shinwell

Can we be sure that no Member of the Tory Party will resign from the party on that account?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The right hon. Gentleman is himself such an expert on that subject that I need not give him any advice.

Mr. E. Fletcher

Will the Minister bear in mind the desirability, in so far as legislation is necessary, of covering the case of the Chairman and Deputy-Chairman of Ways and Means?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Unless it were an impertinence to refer to those two functionaries as being a relevant consideration, I should assure the hon. Gentleman that all relevant considerations will be borne in mind.