§ Mr. HALLSasked the Minister of Agriculture how many officials in his Department at present receive a salary of £1,000, including War bonus, or over; and how many received a salary of £1,000, or over, in June, 1914?
Sir A. BOSCAWENThe number of officials of the Ministry who are at present receiving salaries, including bonus of £1,000 a year or over is 84. The corresponding figure in June, 1914, was 11. I may point out, however, that the work of the Ministry has greatly increased since 1914 and also that a salary of £1,000 at the present time is worth very much less 1379W than the same salary in 1914. If a comparison is made between the number of officials receiving £500 a year and over in 1914 and those receiving £1,000 a year and over at the present time the relative numbers are 68 and 84. Moreover, the amount of bonus payable at present will be substantially reduced on the 1st September as a result of the reduction in the cost of living.