§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list all the payments made by the Government to Mr. Ian MacGregor and to Lazard Frères since Mr. MacGregor's appointment to the British Steel Corporation in 1980 for each financial year since then, including the forecasted payments for 1984–85; and if he will publish the terms of the compensation agreement between the 878W Government and Lazard Frères in respect of Mr. MacGregor's appointment as chairman of the National Coal Board.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerOn 28 March 1983, my predecessor summarised, in a statement to the House, the terms of the compensation agreement between the Government and Lazard Frères for the release of Mr. MacGregor to become chairman of the National Coal Board. The fee was paid in the 1983–84 financial year. I announced the consequential changes to my Department's cash limits on 24 June 1983. These changes were also published in the White Paper on cash limits—Cmnd. 9323 of July 1984. No future payments are due.
Matters concerning the British Steel Corporation are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.