HC Deb 06 March 1957 vol 566 cc78-9W
Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the date when salaries were first paid to Members of Parliament; the amount then paid; the dates when these payments were amended, and by what amounts; taking the £ as having a purchasing value of 20s., what was the relative purchasing value of these amounts of payment on each date, in comparison with the original first payment, after allowing for the depreciation of the purchasing value of the £; and what is the present value of this salary on this basis.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The following table gives the information:

Date Salary Purchasing power of salary, taking the £ as having a purchasing power of 20s. in 1911
£ £
1st April, 1911 400 400
1st July, 1937 600 378*
1st April, 1946 1,000 367*
January, 1957 1,000 228†
* Free travel facilities (introduced in 1924) disregarded.
† Free travel facilities and sessional allowance (introduced in 1954) disregarded.

Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount salaries of Members of Parliament would have to be increased to enable them to receive the same percentage increase as that received by the average worker in industry since May, 1954; and whether he will consider introducing the necessary legislation to enable Members of Parliament to receive the same treatment as the average worker in industry, so far as salary is concerned, excluding the arrears of any such payments.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

£170, disregarding sessional allowance. Legislation is not required to increase Members' salaries.

Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the necessary action to restore the present purchasing value of a Member of Parliament's salary to the purchasing value of the £400 per annum received by Members of Parliament in 1911.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I will note the hon. Member's suggestion.