§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date ministerial salaries were last increased; and, taking the £ sterling as then having a purchasing value of 100p, what was the purchasing value of these salaries, at the latest most convenient stated date, allowing for the depreciation in the £ and the rise in the official cost of living index figures, respectively.
Ministerial Office Salary before tax with effect from 1st April 1972 £ Equivalent value of salary before tax March 1973 £ Prime Minister and First Lord of the Treasury … 20,000 18,500 Cabinet Minister … 13,000 12,025 9,500 8,787.50 Lord Chancellor … 20,000 18,500 Other Ministers, including Ministers of State … 9,500 8,787.50 7,500 6,937.50 Parliamentary Secretary … 5,500 5,087.50 Government Whips: Chief Whip, House of Commons … 9,500 8,787.50 Chief Whip, House of Lords … 6,500 6,012.50 Deputy Chief Whip, both Houses … 5,000 4,625 Other Government Whips, House of Commons … 4,000 3,700 Other Government Whips, House of Lords … 4,500 4,162.50 Law Officers: Attorney-General … 14,500 13,412.50 Lord Advocate … 11,000 10,175 Solicitor-General … 11,000 10,175 Solicitor-General for Scotland … 7,750 7,168.75