§ 29. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give the average rate of pay for probation officers in October, 1951; and, taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value of 20s., by how much each year to date this average salary would need to have been increased to maintain the purchasing value of October, 1951.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe figures requested in the last part of the Question are given below. It is not possible to state the average salary of probation officers in October, 1951. The figures are therefore based on the maximum annual salary, £590, for a man officer in the basic grade in October, 1951.
Following are the figures:
£ 1952 … … … … 41 1953 … … … … 52 1954 … … … … 70 1955 … … … … 104 1956 … … … … 132 1957 … … … … 163 1958 … … … … 179 1959 … … … … 177 1960 … … … … 193 1961 … … … … 223 Notes:
1. The figures in the second column are the amounts that would have had to have been added in October of each year to a salary of £590 in order to give it the purchasing value of that salary in October, 1951.
2. The calculation of changes in purchasing power is based on movements of the Ministry of Labour's retail price index.
3. During the period from October, 1951 to October, 1961, the probation officer's maximum salary rose from £590 to £1,025.
§ 30. Mr. A. Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that during the past twelve months the £ sterling has depreciated in purchasing power by 1s. ld. 144W and that probation officers would need an increase of at least 5 per cent. to restore the purchasing value of their salaries of a year ago; and, as this would not be taking into account of the fall in the purchasing value of the £ sterling prior to May, 1961, whether he will recommend a 5 per cent. increase to the salaries of probation officers.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI am aware of the position. As regards the last part of the hon. Member's Question, I would refer him to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Members for Southampton, Itchen (Dr. King), Salford, West (Mr. C. Royle) and Islington, East (Mr. Fletcher).
§ Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the rejection of his salary proposals by the National Association of Probation Officers, if he will reconsider his decision not to examine the wider claims of the service before 1st January, 1963.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Members for Southampton, Itchen (Dr. King), Salford, West (Mr. C. Royle) and Islington, East (Mr. Fletcher).