HC Deb 26 February 1957 vol 565 cc146-7W
Mr. Sydney Irving

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to state the total number and amount of loans applied for by local authorities from the Public Works Loan Board in each of the last six years, with the total of loans not sanctioned by the Board.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The table below shows for the financial years 1951–52 to 1955–56 and for the nine months to 31st December, 1956, the number and total amount of applications for advances from the Public Works Loan Board and the number and total amount of these applications which were not sanctioned by the Board.

what proportionate increase this represents; and the total net increase or decrease in the numbers of staff during the year.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Wages and salaries £54½ million. 44 per cent. of Civil Supplementary Estimates. Increase of 593 non-industrial civil servants.

Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the Government's policy with regard to the salaries of civil servants, in view of the rise in the cost of living.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The Government have accepted that the primary principle in fixing the pay of civil servants shall be fair comparison with the current remuneration of staff outside the Civil Service employed on broadly comparable work. This accords with the recent recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service (1953–55).