AUTOMATIC ANNUAL INCREASE TO MEMBERS' STAFF SALARIES

That this House recognises the invaluable functions performed by hon. Members' staff; believes that, like other employees, all hon. Members' staff should receive a minimum annual increase in their salary which reflects a cost of living increase; also believes that administrative costs and effort associated with processing individual hon. Members' requests for increases would be significantly reduced by applying a minimum automatic increase to hon. Members' staff salaries in line with the increase applied to the hon. Members' Staffing Allowance; further believes that a very high proportion of staff currently receive either no salary increase or an increase below that applied to the hon. Members' Staffing Allowance; and supports the TGWU Parliamentary Staff branch in its campaign for a minimum automatic annual increase to Members' staff salaries in line with the increase applied to the hon. Members' Staffing Allowance.