HC Deb 10 February 1971 vol 811 cc199-200W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement on what action a Member of Parliament must take for the purpose of submitting evidence to the Committee for investigating Members of Parliaments' salaries, pensions, and conditions of service; when he expects to announce the appointment of Members to this Committee; why it is taking so long for this to be done; and whether he will be submitting evidence on behalf of the Government.

Mr. Whitelaw

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which I gave to him, and to my hon. Friend, the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 20th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 283, 1066–1068.]

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that between October, 1965, and October, 1970, workers' average earnings rose by 45.9 per cent.; and whether he will obtain the figures for the six years from October, 1964, until October, 1970, and submit these details to the Committee of Inquiry into Members of Parliament's salaries and conditions of employment.

Mr. Whitelaw

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 15th January.—[Vol.809,c.138–139.]

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will reappoint the Committee which inquired into the salaries of the chairmen of the nationalisesd boards, the higher paid civil servants and judges, to undertake the review into the salaries of Members of Parliament.

Mr. Whitelaw

No. As I informed the House on 4th December, it is the Government's intention to refer the question of the pay of Members of Parliament to the new Review Body which is to be set up to advise on the remuneration of the boards of nationalised industries, the judiciary, senior civil servants, senior officers of the Armed Forces and such other groups as might appropriately be considered with them.