§ Q16. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how, in all of the national morning newspapers of Friday, 23rd June, and the morning British Broadcasting Corporation news bulletins, details of the Government's announcement on the salary increases to the chairmen of the nationalised boards under the Boyle proposals were made before the Government's official announcement.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I have explained in reply to a letter from the hon. Gentleman that, in accordance with normal practice, my Press Office informed the Press on 22nd June that the Reports by the Top Salaries Review Body and the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration would be published on the following day. The Press was told nothing about the contents of the reports or of the Government's attitude to them.
§ Q20. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister why he made the announcement of the Government's intentions regarding the implementation of the Boyle Report on the pay of the higher paid State servants by a written reply; when he had this report; why the announcement was not made before Friday, 23rd June; and why he is implementing it retrospectively to January, 1972.
§ The Prime MinisterLord Boyle presented his report on 17th March. The date and nature of the announcement were those I judged most appropriate. The effective date was an integral part of the Top Salary Review Body's recommendations.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the final report from the Boyle Committee on increased salaries for the higher-paid State servants; and whether, in view of the Government's decision to implement 209W the 18 per cent. interim increase as proposed and the general inflationary situation, he will request the Boyle Committee to issue its final report before 1975.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not accept the premise underlying the hon. Gentleman's Question. Taking the increases on the normal annual basis, there has been no such increase as 18 per cent. The Review Body stresses that they amount to an average annual increase of 6.8 per cent. It is not the intention to set a firm date for further reports from the Review Body.