§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister, further to her reply of 9 December relating to the growing practice of persons holding positions as heads and deputy heads of the various departments in local authorities and Government Departments receiving salaries and benefits in excess of the Minister of the Crown who has ministerial responsibilities for such organisations, why she will not take steps to ensure that Ministers issue a general circular advising that such salaries should not exceed those paid to Ministers of the Crown.
§ The Prime MinisterThe relative salary levels of Ministers and the higher Civil Service are determined by the Government's decisions on the recommendations of the Top Salaries Review Body. No further action by the Government is necessary.
The salaries of senior local authority officials are a matter for the local authorities themselves to determine within the constraints of cash limits. We have no intention of interfering with this arrangement.