§ Mr. Dykesasked the Lord Privy Seal what is the latest information he has on comparable parliamentary salaries exclusive of allowances, in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and the United States of America.
§ Mr. BiffenThe latest available figures on parliamentary salaries which have been compiled on a comparable basis are given in the "Twentieth Report of the Review Body on Top Salaries" (May 1983). The figures for the countries referred to in the hon. Gentleman's question are as follows:
UNITED KINGDOM
House of Commons
Basic salary of £14,510. Maximum salary of £15,362 for those who draw the London allowance of £852 per annum, which is taxable. Whole of salary taxable.FRANCE
National Assembly
335,200 Fr (£27,702), of which nine twentieths (150,840 Fr =£12,466) is regarded as an expense allowance free of tax.GERMANY
Bundestag
DM 90,000 (£20,979), all taxable.UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Senate
US ․60,662.50 (£35,684), all taxable. In 1977 a limit on outside earnings equivalent to 15 per cent. of the Member's salary was imposed but this was increased to 30 per cent. in
180W
Staff with equal or higher salary than £17,702 £ Office of the Speaker 2 Speaker's Counsel 31,658–32,433 1 Speaker's Secretary 22,329–26,898 1 Staff Inspector 14,873–19,728 Department of the Clerk of the House 1 Clerk of the House* 52,750 1 Clerk Assistant* 38,325–39,250 1 Clerk of Committees* 38,325–39,250 6 Principal Clerks I 31,658–32,433 3 Principal Clerks II 28,916–29,666 16 Deputy Principal Clerks 22,329–26,898 25 Senior Clerks 14,873–19,728 Department of the Serjeant at Arms 1 Serjeant at Arms 31,658–32,433 1 Deputy Serjeant at Arms 22,329–26,898 1 Assistant Serjeant at Arms 19,169–22,988 1 Deputy Assistant Serjeant at Arms 15,821–19,728 Department of the Library 1 Librarian 31,658–32,433 1 Deputy Librarian 22,329–26,898 2 Assistant Librarians 22,329–25,265 1 Deliverer of the Vote 17,653–24,291 8 Deputy Assistant Librarians 18,416–22,662 December 1982. Compared with Senators, Members of the House of Representatives do not add substantially to their income by means of outside earnings.
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
House of Representatives
Same as Senator from December 1982. However, Members of the House of Representatives will receive US $69,800 (£41,059)—the first time since 1796 that Senators and Congressmen have received different salaries.Throughout this table the figures in pounds given in brackets are converted from local currencies at the rates of exchange prevailing in October 1982.