§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table of figures giving the percentage increases since October, 1971, in the salaries of each stated Minister, and of Members of Parliament; and to what extent these increases have depreciated in purchasing value due to the rise in the cost of living since the date of the increase.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinFollowing is the information:
Percentage increase in salaries Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury 43 Cabinet Minister 53 Lord Chancellor 38 Other Ministers, including Ministers of State 12 25 33 Parliamentary Secretary 47 Government Whips: Chief Whip, House of Commons 69 Chief Whip, House of Lords 44 Deputy Chief Whip, both Houses 52 Other Government Whips, House of Lords 50 Other Government Whips, House of Commons 33 Law Officers: Attorney-General 12 Lord Advocate 38 Solicitor-General 22 Solicitor-General for Scotland 38 Member of Parliament 38 The salary of Members of Parliament was increased with effect from 1st January, 1972. Between January and Febuary, 1972, the latest available date, the purchasing power of the £ sterling is estimated to have fallen by 0.5 per cent. Applied to a salary of £4,500 this is equivalent to a fall to £4,478. This estimate is based on movements in the 157W General Index of Retail Prices. Ministerial salaries were increased on 1st April, 1972, and information on which to base a similar estimate is not available.