asked the Minister for Local Government and Public Health if he will state if it is his intention that the increased bonus will be payable only to those local officers whose salaries are calculated by reference to a basic figure and cost-of-living bonus; and if, in view of the fact that the rising cost of living also affects those in receipt of inclusive salaries, he will consider extending the grant of the bonus to include such officials.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Local Officers' Bonus.
As I indicated on the 25th ultimo, the Bill which it is intended to introduce this Session will apply only to salaries which are variable in whole or in part by reference to the cost-of-living index figure. The index figure on which bonus will be paid from the 1st January, 1945, will be 110 instead of 85. Inclusive salaries were fixed at amounts which would not vary with changes either downwards or upwards in the cost of living. They do not, therefore, stand in any relation to remuneration fixed at a basic figure that carries a variable cost-of-living bonus. Emergency bonus can be paid to local officers on inclusive salaries when the salaries do not exceed £500 a year in the case of whole-time officers and £365 a year in the case of part-time officers. As the Deputy is, no doubt, aware, there has been no significant change in the cost of living in the past year.