§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish in the Official Report as detailed a statement as may be available giving the depreciation in the purchasing value of the salary paid to Members since the last adjustment to what extent the present salary would have to rise to compensate for this depreciation as at 1st June; and what have been the annual
498Wlocal government officers are given in the table below:
average wage and salary increases nationally since Members' salaries were last adjusted.
§ Mr. Edward ShortBetween January 1972 and May 1975, the latest available date, the internal purchasing power of the pound has fallen by 38½ per cent., and the General Index of Retail Prices has increased by 63 per cent. If the basic salary of a Member of Parliament, which has been £4,500 per annum since January 1972, were to be increased by the same percentage as the General Index of Retail Prices, it would be £7,290 per annum. Between January 1972 and April 1975 average earnings of employees in the industries covered by the Department of Employment's monthly inquiry have increased by 73 per cent., or at an equivalent annual rate of 18 per cent.
§ Mr. Onslowasked the Lord President of the Council when he expects to receive an interim report from Lord Boyle's Committee of Inquiry into the remuneration of Members.
§ Mr. Edward ShortLord Boyle has now submitted Part I of the Top Salaries Review Body's report on Members' remuneration to the Prime Minister and the Government are considering its recommendations.