§ 31. Mr. Hugh Fraserasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will give a breakdown of the increases in Ministerial salaries from £591,225 on 4th April to £613,850 on 23rd April.
§ Mr. DiamondAs explained to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 29th April, the net increase was, in fact, £14,125, made up of £8,500 for the Paymaster-General, whose office had been vacant since November, 1967, and £5,625 for a Minister of State. In aggregate salary costs the percentage increase is 2.4 per cent.—[Vol. 763, c. 126.]
§ Mr. FraserThese figures become more and more confusing. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 17th April he said that the total increase in Ministerial salaries was £28,500? Even so, is it not absurd to make this sort of increase in Ministerial salaries without any increase in official productivity at all? This is government by Bonnie and Clyde.
§ Mr. DiamondThe right hon. Gentleman must naturally expect an accurate answer to the Questions he asks, and if he compares different dates he will surely get different answers. The figure of the number of Ministerial appointments is now less than it was in October, 1967, and several less than it was in November, 1965.
§ Mr. LubbockWill the right hon. Gentleman consider introducing a system of payment by results for Ministers?
§ Mr. DiamondI should be glad to receive suggestions from the hon. Gentleman.