HC Deb 22 May 1969 vol 784 c120W
70. Mr. Dobson

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now announce the name of the Chairman of the Post Office Corporation.

Mr. Stonehouse

I have invited Viscount Hall to be the first Chairman of the Board of the Post Office Corporation and he has accepted. Mr. Whitney Straight will serve as a Deputy Chairman, Mr. A. W. C. Ryland will be a Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, and Mr. Edward Fennessy will be appointed to the Board as Managing Director (Telecommunications) in succession to Mr. Ryland.

All these appointments will be full-time with the exception of that of Mr. Straight who will serve half-time.

Their annual salaries will be on the basis of those recently approved by the Government for the boards of major nationalised industries, that is to say:

  • Lord Hall—£15,000 per annum.
  • Mr. Ryland—£12,000 per annum.
  • Mr. Straight—£6,000 per annum.
  • Mr. Fennessy within the range £7,770 to £10,450 per annum.

The appointments will take effect formally from the date of Royal Assent to the Post Office Bill. But the designate chairman and board members to be appointed from outside the Post Office will join the Post Office at various early dates so that they can assist in the preparatory work leading to the establishment of the Post Office as a Public Corporation.