§ Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the cost, to firms in the samples, of her Department's inquiry into executive salaries, and the parallel inquiry by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, and of the number of man-hours of work involved.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerMy Department is not conducting an enquiry into executive salaries in parallel with the Board's enquiry. We are making a sample survey of earnings of individual employees which includes executives as well as others. The cost of completing the form used for the survey will vary from firm to firm.
The Board is currently conducting two enquiries—one into top level and one into middle level salaries. I have no estimate of the cost to firms.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will give the actual number of senior staff earning more than £2,000 per annum whose cases of wage or salary increases were examined by the National Board for Prices and Incomes 25W under Orders made under Part IV of the 1966 Act and under Part II of the Act, respectively; and why no references were male of salary increases made to executives and/or company directors earning more than £2,000 per annum.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe precise number of staff earning more than £2,000 per annum in such cases is not known, but it is not large. The Government has not considered it appropriate to refer particular cases of increases for executives or company directors earning over £2,000 per annum to the N.B.P.I. but, as my hon. Friend knows, the Board is at present examining the general questions of top salaries, and salary structures for managerial, executive, professional and technical staff.