HC Deb 17 May 1994 vol 243 cc434-6W
Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what are the current rates of pay to(a) the chairman of British Rail and (b) the chairman of Railtrack; and what are the figures as a percentage of the 1993–94 salary rate.

Mr. Freeman

The current rates of pay, which are at 1993–94 salary rates, are £131,663 to the chairman of British Rail and £121,800 to the chairman of Railtrack.

However, the chairman of the British Railways Board's salary as from 1 April 1994 is 60 per cent. of his previous salary, reflecting his move to a three-day week from his previous full-time appointment.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list details and costs of the services or benefits made available in addition to salary to(a) the chairman of British Rail, (b) the chairman of Railtrack, (c) the rail regulator and (d) the franchise director.

Mr. Freeman

Information in the case of the chairman of British Rail was given in note 5(c) to the "British Railways Board Annual Report and Accounts 1992–93". Disclosure will be made also in subsequent annual reports and accounts of the British Railways Board, and is to be expected for the chairman of Railtrack in the annual report and accounts of Railtrack plc.

The rail regulator and the franchise director each have a pension arrangement broadly by analogy with the principal civil service pension scheme, with no special enhancements, on salary up to the level of the pension schemes earning cap—£76,800 from 6 April 1994, normally increased annually in line with retail prices.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the criteria, other than inflation, used to determine the percentage increase on 1993–94 salary rates for(a) the rail regulator and (b) the franchise director; and what were the percentage increases in each case.

Mr. Freeman

Increases in the remuneration of the rail regulator and the franchise director are determined by my right hon. Friend in the light of the Government's decision on recommendations made by the Senior Salaries Review Body and the subsequent Treasury guidance on the consequential arrangements for chairmen and members of non-commercial public boards and holders of broadly similar appointments. The decision on the body's 1994 report was announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 February 1994,Official Report, column 848–50. As regards the percentage increases awarded to the rail regulator and the franchise director from 1 April 1994, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her on 9 May, Official Report, column 56.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the criteria, other than inflation, that he is using to determine the 1994–95 salary increases for(a) the chairman of British Rail and (b) the chairman of Railtrack.

Mr. Freeman

Salary increases will be determined in the light of the Government's policy to pay no more than is necessary to retain and motivate suitably qualified board members and will take account of any 1994–95 pay increases which may be agreed for the staff.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secrtary of State for Transport when the salaries for 1994–95 for(a) the chairman of British Rail and (b) the chairman of Railtrack will be detemined; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Freeman

Salaries for 1994–95, which will require approval by Treasury, will be determined in due course.

Mrs. Dunwoody

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the cost in each case of the company cars available to(a) the chairman of British Rail, (b) the chairman of Railtrack, (c) the rail regulator and (d) the franchise director.

Mr. Freeman

The provision of company cars and the consequent cost for the chairman of British Rail and the chairman of Railtrack is a matter between them and the industry concerned.

The rail regulator and the franchise director head non-ministerial Government departments and are entitled, under their terms of appointment, to have the use of a car for official business, the costs of which are charged to their departments.

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