§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will give details of his salary and tax-free expenses and emoluments when these were last fixed; and, taking the £ sterling as having then a purchasing power of 20s., to what extent these amounts have been depreciated by the rise in cost of living and the fall in the purchasing value of the £ sterling.
§ The Prime MinisterUnder the Ministerial Salaries and Members' Pensions Act of 1965 the salary of the office of Prime Minister is £14,000. Of this £4,000 is allowable as expenses deduction for tax purposes. Taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing power of 20s. on 1st April, 1965, when the salary of £14,000 was fixed, it is estimated that this salary has depreciated by £2,030 or
24Win England and Wales during each of the past 10 years; and what was the infant mortality rate among such illegitimate children compared to the general infant mortality rate during those 10 years.
§ Mr. CrossmanFigures are as follows:
14½ per cent. With regard to the fiat-rate deduction for expenses which was fixed at the current level of £4,000 in 1947, it is estimated that this has depreciated since 1947 by £2,150 or 53.8 per cent.