HC Deb 16 May 1977 vol 932 cc29-30W
Mr. Weitzman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the gross salary required to give a Cabinet Minister who is married with no children the same net income as he enjoyed in 1965.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

Assuming for 1977–78 full implementation of the Budget proposals, in money terms a gross ministerial salary of £7,575 per annum would be required to give the same net income after tax and national insurance contributions as that enjoyed in 1965–66 when the ministerial salary was £8,500 per annum. Expressed in real terms, the gross ministerial salary required would be £51,163 per annum—using as price index the average General Index of Retail Prices—All Items, for the tax year 1965–66, and for 1977–78 the index for March 1977.

This calculation is based only on the ministerial salary and does not take account of either the abated Parliamentary salary receivable by a Minister who is also a Member of the House of Commons or of any other income.

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