§ 27. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the weekly average figure of increased salaries and wages for staff included in the Supplementary Estimates of his Department.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe total additional figure under sub-head A of the Supplementary Estimate in respect of salaries and wages is £1,665,000. This amount, if averaged out over the whole staff, produces a figure of 17s. 5d. a week. It is, however, in fact required mainly to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, including the reduction of working hours, in a Department whose duty to the public involves the opening of offices on six days of the week.
§ Mr. RandallYes, but without desiring to criticise or even question the justification for the increased salaries and wages—that has arisen because of Government policies—how can the Minister continue to justify an increase in salaries and wages for his own staff in the Ministry and at the same time say that there is nothing to be done for the old-age pensioners? I accept that part of 847 this arises from the Report of the Royal Commission; but, equally, even the considerations of the Royal Commission were directed to relativities and other factors relevant to an improvement in the wages and salaries of civil servants. If these people who serve the old-age pensioners are included, why should not the old-age pensioners be allowed to have an increase?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Gentleman will be well aware that this Government have twice increased the rate of retirement pension; but it has never been the doctrine that the timing of those changes must exactly coincide with the quite irrelevant matter of Civil Service scales.
§ 28. Mr. Randallasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what percentage of the Supplementary Estimate of the National Assistance Board is represented by increased salaries and wages for staff.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterAbout 33 per cent.
§ Mr. RandallOnce again, why is there this increase to the staff of the National Assistance Board when the increase in respect of National Assistance grants on the Supplementary Estimates represents only something like 1 per cent.? Surely, is there not once again justification here for an increase in the assistance rates, if an increase in salaries and wages is to be given to the staff of the Board?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIf I may say so, the hon. Gentleman is on even worse ground than in his previous supplementary question, in view of the fact that the National Assistance Board has five times raised its rates since 1948.