Members (Salary and Expenses) (Hansard, 15 June 1961)

§ 19. Mr. Shinwell
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in the salary and expenses of hon. Members is necessary to bring them up to the money equivalent when the present rates were decided.

§ Sir E. Boyle
On the basis of the change in the internal purchasing value of the pound since July, 1957, the equivalent now of the £1,000 salary and of the £750 additional remuneration of hon. Members would respectively be £1,056 and £792.

§ Mr. Shinwell
Then why not pay the increase? Why should we be deprived of our rights? Why should civil servants, teachers, doctors, and even footballers get an increase in salary while impoverished and impecunious Members of Parliament have to look outside in order to gain a little extra to keep their heads above water?

§ Sir E. Boyle
That is a highly controversial question, and I am glad it does not fall to me to decide it.

§ Mr. Nabarro
Will my hon. Friend draw attention to the outside income of the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) from broadcasting, television, and the remainder?

§ Mr. Shinwell
May I ask the hon. Gentleman—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I think that the true position is that the Minister is scarcely responsible for activities of that kind.

§ Mr. Shinwell
On a point of order. Did you, Mr. Speaker, regard the observation of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro) as relevant to the supplementary question which I put?

§ Mr. Speaker
I thought that the supplementary question of the hon. Member for Kidderminster was out of order on two grounds. But one ground is enough, and that is that there is no Ministerial responsibility for that aspect of the matter.