§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service why the chairmen of the British Railways Board, the Electricity Council, the Gas Council, the National Coal Board and the Post Office Corporation are to have their salaries increased from £17,500 per annum to £20,000 as from 1st January, 1971, in addition to the increase of £2,500 per annum paid on 1st April, 1969, whereas the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board is to receive £3,000 per annum extra on £16,000 per annum, and the Chairman of British European Airways an extra £2,000 per annum from £15,000 per annum to £17,000 per annum.
§ Mr. David HowellThe increases, other than for the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board are in accordance with the recommendations by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its report No. 107 of April, 1969. They are the third and final stage—the second having been paid from April, 1970—to bring the chairmen of nationalised boards to the level considered appropriate by an independent body in 1969. The increase for the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board reflects the previous Government's decision that the Board's status should be raised, with a salary range for the Chairman of £18,000 to £19,000 per annum.