§ 28. Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state for the latest convenient stated date the number of Members of Parliament who were not accepting their Parliamentary salaries; and what was the gross net saving to the Treasury.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanOn 31st October, 1956, two Members were not accepting their Parliamentary salaries. The saving from the beginning of the current financial year until the end of last month was £892 3s. 5d.
§ Mr. LewisIs the Chancellor aware that one individual included in those figures happens to be a director of forty companies, according to the Evening News? In view of the fact that quite a number of hon. Members opposite opposed this payment, may we take it that they oppose it in the House but willingly draw it when it comes to taking it from the Treasury?
§ Mr. MacmillanI am not prepared to discuss the names, and I think it would be quite wrong for me in this House—as would, I think, be universally approved—to give in reply to a Question of this kind the names of hon. Members and an indication whether they chose or did not chose to draw the salary to which they were entitled.