§ 43. Mr. H. A. Priceasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the commencing salary of a higher executive officer in 1939; what this salary would need to be today to compensate for increases in the cost of living and higher taxation; and the commencing salary of this grade today.
§ Mr. PowellThe commencing salary of a higher executive officer was £550 in 1939. For a married man with one child, the equivalent salary today to compensate for increases in the cost of living and higher taxation would be £1,733. The commencing salary of this grade is now £1,055.
§ Mr. PriceIs it not clear that this represents a deterioration in the standard of living of about 40 per cent.? How is this process to be ended?
§ Mr. PowellYes, it is clear.
§ Mr. CallaghanAs we have the Chancellor and the Prime Minister here, may I ask whether they will relate that reply to the position of the salaries of Members of Parliament, who are suffering a steady deterioration in their standard of life and many of whom, moreover, are now unable to perform their duties as they should be performed because of the lack of proper remuneration? Now that we have had a clean sweep in the Chancellorship and the Prime Ministership, can this matter be reviewed again?
§ Mr. PowellThat appears to relate to an entirely different matter.