§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, in real terms, of (a) the Chairman, (b) the deputy chairman and (c) other board members of British Airways in 1972 and 1977, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 7th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 667], gave the following information
The net salaries, assuming each post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, of the deputy chairman and of a member of the board of British Airways in 1972 were £9,376.19 and £7,481.27 respectively, the latter figure being calculated from the average of the salaries of full-time members. The comparable figures for 1977 in real terms, using 1972 as the base year, are £4,630.59 and £4,157.63 respectively.
A similar comparison cannot be made for the chairman because in 1972 the appointment was part-time, but his net salary in 1977 of £10,604.38 is equivalent to £4,961.58 in real terms, using 1972 as the base year.
The British Airways Board Act 1977 lays down that the board shall consist of not less than eight nor more than 15 persons, of which 14 places are currently filled.