§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister for the Civil Service in how many cases the Top Salaries Review Body has recommended increases in pay which have had to be deferred due to the present economic situation; and in how many of these cases, apart from Members of Parliament, increases in pensions for those retiring while the restrictions are in force have been approved.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisIncreases recommended by the Top Salaries Review Body have been deferred in two cases.
Report No. 6 of the Top Salaries Review Body in December 1974 recommended increases for the Higher Civil Service, the Judiciary and senior officers of the Armed Forces. It was decided to stage these increases at the higher salary levels. The first stage was paid from 1st January 1975, but the second stage, due from 1st January 1976, has been deferred. Action on the increases recommended in 399W the same report for the chairmen and members of the boards of nationalised industries has been deferred and is now being considered in the light of the report on higher incomes of the Royal Commission on the Distribution of Income and Wealth.
Report No. 7 of the Top Salaries Review Body recommended in July 1975 that Members of Parliament should receive a parliamentary salary of £8,000. The House decided on 22nd July 1975 that Members of Parliament should for the time being draw a lower salary, though £8,000 was accepted as the proper rate for the job.
As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister indicated in his Written Answer of 20th December 1974, pensions payable in the case of the Higher Civil Service, the Judiciary and senior officers of the Armed Forces will be based on the full rates recommended by the Top Salaries Review Body and accepted by the Government as the true rate for the job. In the case of the nationalised industry board chairmen and members, however, the Government have not yet taken a decision on the Top Salaries Review Body's recommendations on which increased pension provision could be based.