HC Deb 22 June 1971 vol 819 c251W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in view of the fact that the directors of Shell have increased the salaries of their part-time directors, who never work more than two days per week, from £2,000 per annum to £5,000 per annum, if, when he next makes a public speech calling for wage and salary restraint, he will make an appeal to all executives and to the boards of directors of private companies to set an example in supporting the Government's call for wage and salary restraint by declining to accept or award such increases in salaries.

Mr. Bryan

Without considering all the circumstances, particularly the period which has elapsed since the last increase, no sensible judgment on the justification for a pay increase can be made. I do not therefore accept the implication in the question in relation to this particular case nor am I prepared to comment on individual cases of this kind. But the Government certainly expects restraint to be exercised at all levels of remuneration.