HC Deb 19 March 1975 vol 888 cc412-3W
Mr. Kinnock

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive a report from the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth on the higher incomes reference.

Mr. Foot:

As envisaged in the statement of 20th December last by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the report of the Top Salaries Review Body the Government have consulted the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth about the possibility of accelerating its inquiry into higher incomes.

To enable an early report to be made on the main subject of the reference it has been agreed that the commission should defer for the time being its consideration in this connection of income from self-employment.

In the light of this and after reviewing its total programme, the commission has concluded that on its present plans and knowledge of what needs to be done its report might be submitted in nine months instead of a year, as originally intended —that is, by mid-July.