§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates the salaries of Ministers and Junior Ministers were fixed at their present stated level; and, taking the £ as having the purchasing value of 20s. at that date, what is the present relative purchasing value of these salaries, after allowing for the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £, since that date.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe salaries of some Ministers were fixed at their present level over 100 years ago, but it was not until 1937 that Parliament first legislated comprehensively on Ministers' salaries. Under the Ministers of the Crown Act, 1937, Ministers of Cabinet rank receive, in general, a salary of £5,000, which in terms of purchasing power is now equivalent to £1,810.
Under the same Act other Ministers and Junior Ministers receive salaries of £3,000, £2,000 or £1,500, which are now equivalent to £1,086, £724 and £543 respectively. Since 1946, Ministers not of Cabinet rank have been entitled to draw in addition £500 of their Parliamentary salary; in terms of purchasing power this £500 is now equivalent to £310. These Ministerial salary figures take no account of the effect of taxation.