§ Q3. Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Prime Minister whether he will review the provisions of Schedule 2, part I, of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government at present have no plans to review the provisions of Schedule 2, part I, of the Ministerial and Other Salaries Act 1975.
§ Dr. MarshallThat schedule fixes the annual salary of the Leader of the Opposition at £9,500. [HON. MEMBERS: "Too much."] Does my right hon. Friend agree that since the present holder of that office has intervened on 294 occasions at Question Time and only six or seven of her questions could be described as positively 972 constructive, if her salary is to be reviewed she is not eligible for a productivity bonus?
§ The Prime MinisterThe Review Body on Top Salaries said that our parliamentary system required a strong and effective Opposition. I think that the righ hon. Lady earns every penny of her salary, considering that she is so much a one-man band.
§ Mrs. ThatcherIs that not one more man than the Government have got?
§ The Prime MinisterI must say that on this occasion I should be willing to overlook the lack of productivity if only we could have an improvement in the quality of the questions.