HC Deb 17 May 1978 vol 950 cc169-70W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce at the earliest opportunity the necessary legislation on the lines of Early Day Motion No. 252 so that Members who retire voluntarily or retire through ill health or age and have served in a minimum number of two Parliaments receive three months' severance pay in the same way as defeated Members now do.

Mr. Foot

As I told my hon. Friend on 16th February [Official Report, Vol. 944, c. 297–8], the question of severance pay will be looked at in the next substantive review of Members' pay and allowances.

Mr. Strang

German Federal Republic legislation, the Reinheitsgebot, limits the raw materials in beer sold in Germany to barley malt, hops, yeast and water, with wheat malt, sugar and saccharin being allowed in certain cases. A wider range of raw materials, including cereal adjuncts and permitted additives, are often used in the brewing of British beer and consequently this severely restricts possible exports to Germany.