§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the national wage and salary bill, costs of goods and services, exports and the cost of living will rise if all salaries and wages were to rise by the same average wage and salary increase as to be paid to top civil servants, judges, doctors, dentists, senior military personnel and the police.
§ Mr. BiffenThe pay increases recently awarded to top civil servants, judges and senior military personnel in respect of the
246Wtable 7 of the Board of Inland Revenue's 121st report—Cmnd. 7473. The comparable figures for income tax and corporation tax for the accounting year to 31 October 1974 are set out below; those for the year to 31 October 1978 are not yet available.
current pay round averaged 11.7 per cent. and those for doctors and dentists about 12 per cent. The average earnings index in the 12 months to March rose by 14.6 per cent. If the rest of the population received increases in line with those received by these groups, the level of increase in the national wage and salary bill, costs of goods and services and the cost of living would fall below that indicated by present trends and exports would increase.
The recent award to the police was exceptional and required to protect law and order. It does not provide a basis for any other group to receive similar increases.