§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether as Members of Parliament, unlike higher-paid civil servants, judges, chairmen of the nationalised boards and higher-paid ranks in the Services, have had no increase in their salaries since October, 1964, he will request Lord Boyle, the Chairman of the review body appointed to investigate these salaries, to deal first with Members' salaries and issue an interim report thereon, pending the issue of the full report.
§ Mr. WhitelawI have repeatedly given an assurance to the House that I would refer the salaries of Ministers and Members to the Top Salaries Review Body as soon as it was set up. It will be for the Review Body to decide whether an interim report on this review would be appropriate.
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§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he is now able to announce the members of the Committee, under the Chairmanship of Lord Boyle, on Members of Parliament's pay; and what action Members of Parliament should take to give written and oral evidence to this Committee.
§ Mr. WhitelawMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister hopes to make an announcement shortly about the membership of the Review Body which will advise on the remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament.
As regards the submission of evidence to this Review Body, I would refer the hon. Member to the written reply I gave him on 20th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 283.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council to what extent the terms of reference of the Boyle Committee appointed to investigate the salaries and conditions of employment of Members of Parliament will enable Members of Parliament to request their trade unions to represent them before this Committee.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind but, as I have assured him on 12th January, it is the intention that the terms of reference of the Review Body will enable it to obtain, and take into account, all relevant information.