§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what the present salaries of hon. Members would be at the latest date if these had risen on an annual cumulative basis since 1974 on the national average salary and wage increases for the rest of the workers in trade and industry.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe basic salary for an hon. Member in 1974 was £4,500 per annum. The increase in the seasonally adjusted index of average earnings—older series—over the five years period from December 1973 to December 1978 was 118.2 per cent. If Members' salaries had increased by that amount, their salary would now be £9,820 per annum.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give, for each of the calendar or financial years from 1974, the average earnings increases; and how these figures compare with the increases in hon. Members' salaries during the same periods.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerFrom 1975, Members' salaries have been increased in June each year. There was no increase in 1974. In the table below, these increases are compared with the December to December increase in the seasonally adjusted index of average earnings—older series—for all employees.
Percentage increase in Members salaries Percentage increase in seasonally adjusted index of average earnings 1974 … 0.0 29.1 1975 … 27.8 19.0 1976 … 5.4 11.5 1977 … 3.4 10.6 1978 … 10.0 15.2