HL Deb 23 July 1987 vol 488 cc1546-7

3.51 p.m.

Viscount Whitelaw

My Lords, I beg to move that the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1987 be approved. This order increases salaries payable under the Ministerial and other Salaries Act 1975 to Ministers, to salaried Members of the Opposition in both Houses and to the Speaker of the House of Commons. The new rates, which are set out in the schedule to the order, will take effect from 1st January 1988.

The salaries of Ministers and other paid office-holders were last increased in January 1987 under the terms of the Ministerial and other Salaries Order 1983 and they would remain at these levels unless superseded by this new order.

The Government have laid this present order against the background of the 21.9 per cent. increase in the salaries of Members of Parliament on 1st January 1988, following the House of Commons decision to link the parliamentary salary to a Civil Service payscale. The Government did not consider that a similar percentage increase in the salaries of Ministers and other office-holders was justified and they propose instead that all Ministers and office-holders' salaries should be increased by £4,048—that is to say, by the same cash increase that will be received by Members of Parliament. I beg to move.

Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 16th July be approved [2nd Report of the Joint Committee].—(Viscount Whitelaw.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.