HL Deb 20 November 1979 vol 403 cc5-7

2.56 p.m.

Lord AYLESTONE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government when they expect to receive a report from the Top Salaries Review Body on the subject of "reckonable service" and other related parliamentary pensions matters which were referred to that Body on 23rd October 1978.

The LORD PRESIDENT of the COUNCIL (Lord Soames)

My Lords, I cannot yet say when the Review Body will report.

Lord AYLESTONE

My Lords, in thanking the noble Lord the Leader for his reply, may I ask whether he is aware —I am sure he is—that, after a decision of the House, it took the former Administration three months before referring it to the Top Salaries Review Body and since then 13 months have elapsed and we still have no report? Will the noble Lord please do his very best to expedite the report?

Lord SOAMES

My Lords, as the noble Lord says, it is 13 months since this matter was referred, along with a number of other matters, to the Top Salaries Review Body. It was understood at the time that there were some priorities in this and that there would be more than one report coming from the Review Body. One report has already come from this Body covering four out of the eight. I have no doubt that they will take note of what has been said in the House today.

Lord SHINWELL

My Lords, is the noble Lord the Leader of the House aware that the delay is becoming an embarrassment to those who declared an interest in the matter? Is he also aware that if they do not expedite the report and see that it arrives at a favourable conclusion and does justice to people like myself, there is not very much time left?

Lord SOAMES

My Lords, I have no doubt whatsoever—and certainly it would be the hope of the whole House—that the noble Lord will have many years yet to enjoy the fruits of the report.

Viscount ECCLES

My Lords, does my noble friend realise that there are a handful of ex-Ministers who left the House of Commons before 1964 and who get nothing? This question has been raised over and over again; sympathetic noises have been made, and nothing happens. I would heartily support the noble Lord, Lord Shinwell.

Lord SOAMES

My Lords, indeed there are a number of Members of this House, too, who are involved in this; that I know. I am sure that the Review Body, and particularly their chairman, will take note of all that has been said in the House today. They have already reported on some of the points—they were given an order of priorities—and it is my hope that it will not be long before they report again.

Lord INGLEWOOD

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that most of us in this House who have declared an interest at one time or another would prefer half a loaf to no bread?

Lord SOAMES

I am not so sure about that, my Lords. I must declare an interest myself.

Lord BLYTON

My Lords, is it not a fact that the Boyle Committee have always got things on the boil and we never hear anything about it?

Lord SOAMES

My Lords, let us hope it will bubble over very soon.