§ Q4. Dame Irene Wardasked the Prime Minister how many chairmen of nationalised boards have offered their resignations since 1966; and what action was taken.
§ The Prime MinisterSix chairmen of nationalised boards have offered their resignations since 1966: five resignations were accepted: one, as the House was informed, was refused.
§ Dame Irene WardIn the interests of the nationalised industries, and following the forthright speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer last evening, would it not help the nationalised industries if the Prime Minister were to offer himself his own resignation?—[Interruption]—May I have an answer?
§ Mr. LeadbitterSilly old woman.
§ Mr. Michael FootWill the Prime Minister—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I did not hear what an hon. Member said just now, but it is bad form to shout across the House.
§ Dame Irene WardOn a point of order. I would much rather that hon. Members opposite had their say. I do not care how many of them, or what they say.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am interested not in any Member in particular. I am interested in the House.
§ Mr. Michael FootWill the Prime Minister recognise that one of the nationalised boards about whose chairman some of us are somewhat concerned is the Bank of England? In view of a speech which was delivered by a previous Governor of the Bank of England, will the Prime Minister say whether any indication was given when that chairman resigned that he was going to offer his services to an American company, and then coming to lecture the rest of the country about patriotism? Would he not recognise—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. Questions must be brief.
§ Mr. FootWould the Prime Minister recognise that the speech delivered yesterday by an ex-chairman of a nationalised board was a disgrace to the office which he once held, and would he not repudiate the speech which was made?
§ The Prime MinisterIf, as I understand, my hon. Friend is referring to the former Governor of the Bank of England and certainly not making any criticisms of the present one but referring to the former one, of course it would be out of order, I understand, Mr. Speaker, to 1489 comment on a speech made in another place in the present Session, and I think it would be out of order for me to comment on a Member of another place in this way.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerIn view of the forced resignation of the Chairman of British Railways, would the Prime Minister tell us what he has decided should be the salary of the next Chairman of British Railways?
§ The Prime MinisterNo. I have no statement to make to the House about this. As the hon. Gentleman knows very well, because he takes a very deep interest in these transport questions, these are questions which should be put to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport who, of course, will be informing the House at the earliest opportunity—[HON. MEMBERS: "When?"] —at the earliest opportunity—of all the circumstances relating to the filling of this vacancy.