FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (SALARY)

HC Deb 23 March 1961 vol 637 c576

43. Mr. Wyatt

asked the Prime Minister whether he will introduce legislation to raise the salary of the First Lord of the Treasury.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir.

Mr. Wyatt

While many people might agree with the Prime Minister that he personally is not worth more than Dr. Beeching, does not he think that the dignity of his office demands that it should be given a status at least nearly equivalent to that of the Chairman of the Railways Board? Is he not aware that the Minister of Transport has made it clear that there will be many more appointments in the new Railways Board at salaries above that paid to the Prime Minister? Is it not time that the salaries of all Cabinet Ministers, which were fixed in 1831, were brought up to date?

The Prime Minister

While I am very grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his care of my financial needs, he rather spoiled the delicacy of his approach by the way in which he introduced his last supplementary question.