§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) whether she will take steps to call for a return to be made either through the Registrar of Companies or the Confederation of British Industry to ascertain to what extent company directors in receipt of £5,000 per annum or more have been receiving salary increases contrary to the Government's prices and incomes policy; and whether she will publish these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT;
(2) whether she is aware of the growing practice of company directors and higher paid executives with salaries in the £5,000 per annum to £50,000 per annum range increasing these salaries by amounts ranging from 5 per cent. to 10 per cent. in consecutive years; and what action she has taken since 1st January, 1969, to investigate these matters to see to what extent they contravene the Government's 28W policy on wages, prices and incomes;
(3) when she first requested the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate the question of higher salaries; when she expects to receive the Board's report on these matters; and whether she will make a statement;
(4) whether, in view of the new evidence submitted by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, she will now change the Government's policy on salary increases paid to company directors and higher paid executives in the £5,000 per annum to £50,000 per annum category who have increased their salaries by amounts varying between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerThe question of top salaries in the private sector and nationalised industries was referred to the Board on 1st July, 1968. The report is now expected to be published in mid-March. The Government will consider what action, if any, is needed in this field in the light of that report.