HC Deb 25 October 1995 vol 264 cc650-1W
Mr. David Martin

To ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the salaries covered by the Ministerial and other Salaries Order. [39781]

Mr. Newton

During the debate on Members' salaries in November 1993,Official Report, 3 November 1993, column 457 I announced that, henceforth, the level of ministerial salaries should normally be increased by the same proportion as those of hon. Members, and that Ministers in the other place would receive the same increase, in cash terms, as their counterparts in this House receive from their combined ministerial and reduced parliamentary salaries.

That arrangement will be applied this year, giving Ministers in this House an increase of 2.7 per cent. and Ministers in the other place the corresponding cash increase.

The draft Ministerial and other Salaries Order to implement these changes from 1 January 1996 was laid in the House on Monday 23 October. The details are set out in the tables.

In accordance with the resolution of 3 November 1993, the same percentage increase will be applied to the reduced parliamentary salary paid to Commons Ministers and paid office holders, increasing it from the current rate of 24,985 to £25,660 on 1 January 1996.

Ministers Salaries
Current salary £ New salary £
Commons Ministers
Prime Minister 57,018 58,557
Cabinet Minister 42,834 43,991
Minister of State 30,307 31,125
Parliamentary Under Secretary 23,002 23,623
Attorney General 45,516 46,745
Solicitor General 37,321 38,329
Government Chief Whip 35,650 36,613
Government Deputy Chief Whip 30,307 31,125
Government Whip 19,502 20,029
Assistant Government Whip 19,502 20,029
Leader of the Opposition (actual) 37,495 38,507
Leader of the Opposition (nominal) 39,272 40,332
Opposition Chief Whip 30,307 31,125
Assistant Opposition Whip 19,502 20,029
Ministers Salaries
Current salary £ New salary £
Speaker (actual) 42,834 43,991
Speaker (nominal) 44,943 46,156
Chairman of Ways and Means 30,307 31,125
First Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means 26,636 27,355
Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means 26,636 27,355
Lord Ministers
Cabinet Minister 55,329 57,161
Minister of State 48,835 50,328
Parliamentary Under Secretary 41,065 42,361
Lord Chancellor Apr-96 Apr-96
Lord Advocate 55,409 57,241
Government Chief Whip 48,835 50,328
Government Deputy Chief Whip 41,065 42,361
Government Whip 37,111 38,313
Leader of the Opposition 41,065 42,361
Opposition Chief Whip 37,111 38,313
Chairman of Committees 48,835 50,328
Principal Deputy Chairman of Committees 44,856 46,349
Minister in neither House
Solicitor General (Scotland) 47,697 48,985
Parliamentary Salaries
Member of Parliament 33,189 34,085
Reduced Parliamentary Salary 24,985 25,660

1. The Speaker has opted to take the salary of a Cabinet Minister in the House of Commons;

The Lord Chancellor's Salary is set separately by Section 3 of the Ministerial and other Pensions and Salaries Act 1991.

Mr. Blair declined the 4.7 per cent. increase on 1 January 1995.