Mrs. Thatcher slashes recommended pay hikes

Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher Monday slashed pay increases recommended for members of Parliament and senior government officials, saying they had to set an example of restraint to others in inflation-ridden Britain. Mrs. Thatcher said members of Parliament would get pay increases of 9.6 percent -- less than half the current annual rate of inflation of 21.9 percent. Senior officials would receive increases of 12.5 percent.

Members of Parliament were slated to get 14.6 percent pay hikes. Senior officials were to receive 19 percent. With the new increases, which will come in stages, members of Parliament will make $30,000 a year by next June.