§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the salaries of the highly paid individuals such as chairmen of nationalised boards have fallen since their last salary adjustment, atoning for inflation; to what extent the Boyle Committee recommended increases; to what extent these proposed increases will have to be adjusted to account for inflation and to restore them to their original purchasing value; and when he expects to implement the Boyle Committee recommendations and pay these increases.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisThe salaries of the members of the four groups within the standing remit of the Review Body on Top Salaries would need to be increased by 8.2 per cent. to keep them in line with the movement in the index of retail prices between January 1977, when the majority of these people last received an increase, and October 1977, which is the last date for which figures are available.
The last report of the Review Body which considered the salaries of these groups—Report No. 6, published in December 1974 as Cmnd. 5846—recommended average increases of 28.8 per cent.
The recommended salaries would need to be increased by 60 per cent. to keep them in line with the movement in the index of retail prices since December 1974.
As regards the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime 331W Minister to the Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, South (Mr. George) today.