§ Mr. Gryllsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what is his estimate of the net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, in real terms, of (a) the chairman, (b) the deputy chairman and (c) other board members of the British Airports Authority in 1972 and 1977, taking 1972 as the base year; and how many places on the board are currently unfilled.
§ Mr. Clinton Davis,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 8th July 1977; Vol. 934, c. 709–10], gave the following information
The average net salary, assuming the post to be held by a married man with no dependent children, of a full-time member of the board of the British Airports Authority in 1972 was £6,709.62. The comparable figure for 1977 in real terms, using 1972 as the base year, is £3,556.76.
A similar comparison cannot be made for the chairman and deputy chairman because in 1972—and in 1977 for the deputy chairman—the appointments were part-time; but the not salary of the chairman in 1977 of £9,334.42 is equivalent to £4,367.39 in real terms, using 1972 as the base year.
The Airports Authority Act 1965 lays down that the Authority shall consist of a chairman, a deputy chairman and not more than eight nor less than four other members. There are currently seven other members.