HC Deb 11 December 1969 vol 793 cc168-9W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why her Department did not reply until 28th November to the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, drawing attention to the practice of company directors of evading the Government's incomes policy, in view of the fact that the information contained in this reply was negative.

Mr. Harold Walker

I am sorry there was some delay in replying to my hon. Friend's letter of 10th November.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why, in several cases, she has stopped or held up wage and salary increases to lower-paid workers when these increases have been slightly above the Government's norm; and whether in formulating her new policy she will ensure that company directors who have increased their salaries consistently and by amounts in excess of the norm will be subject to similar controls.

Mr. Harold Walker

It is not clear from the Question what particular cases my hon. Friend has in mind. If he will let me have details, I will write to him. The Government's productivity, prices and incomes policy for the period after 1969 is set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 4237) which is published today.